There's an unfortunate thread running through Chinese history that consistently blames women for the country's catastrophes and failures.
Ci Xi is blamed for China's inability to modernize and confront Western imperialism; Jiang Qing is blamed as the black hand behind the Cultural Revolution. In the Tang era, Yang Guifei stands accused of distracting the Xuanzong Emperor from his duties and causing the disastrous An Lushan Rebellion, thus precipitating the downfall of China's greatest imperial dynasty.
As if Yang hasn't been unfairly maligned enough over the centuries, however, netizens are now blaming her for enticing male tourists to fondle her breasts.
READ MORE: People keep groping this statue in Wuhan and it's getting ridiculous
After a visitor to Xi'an was caught grasping at the stone nipples of the imperial consort's effigy and pilloried by the press as the latest example of uncivilized tourist behavior, commenters have leapt to his defense by deflecting blame to the statue itself, essentially making the age-old argument "she was asking for it."
"With a naked statue, of course everyone will want to fondle it" one web user opined. Another chirped in that "if they made a statue like this they must have wanted people to grope her."
As for the touchy tourist himself, his defense was possibly even more questionable than victim-blaming: "I paid money," he said, referring to the park's entrance fee, "so why can't I touch?"
Great logic. Why don't you try it on this lady next and see what happens.
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