Lesson Overview
Featured Article: “Who, and Where, Is Peng Shuai?” by Raymond Zhong
“Where is Peng Shuai?” is a question that has gripped the sports world and drawn the attention of the White House, the United Nations and others. Ms. Peng, a Chinese tennis star, disappeared from public view for weeks in November after she accused a top Chinese leader of sexual assault, prompting a global chorus of concern for her safety.
In this lesson, you will learn about Ms. Peng and how China’s censorship of the tennis star’s #MeToo allegations has not been able to silence an international outcry. In a Going Further activity, we invite you to think about how the world should respond to the situation and consider whether nations should boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Warm-Up
Write about a time when you stood up, spoke out or took action for something you believed in. This could have been on someone else’s behalf or your own.
Keep in mind that your action doesn’t have to have been big or dramatic. Sometimes speaking or standing up can just mean offering a kind word or a hand on the shoulder, or simply saying, “I disagree.”
What happened? Why did you choose to take action? Why did you feel the responsibility to take action? Did you think about possible repercussions or negative consequences? What difference did it make? How did you feel after?
Then, reflect on what your experiences have taught you about the importance and challenges of speaking up.
Questions for Writing and Discussion
Read the article, then answer the following questions:
1. Who is Peng Shuai? What are some of her accomplishments on and off the tennis court?
2. What did Ms. Peng accuse a top Chinese leader of doing? How did she make her accusation public?
3. How have the authorities in China reacted to the charges? How is this response part of a pattern for women who come forward as victims of sexual assault and predation, according to the article?
4. Why are people across the globe concerned about Ms. Peng’s safety and well-being? Why haven’t the photos and videos that appear to show Ms. Peng quelled international outcry?
5. How has the sports world responded? What are organizations like the Women’s Tennis Association and the International Olympic Committee doing to address the situation? Which approach do you find most appropriate or effective?
6. What is your reaction to the article about Ms. Peng? What inspiration or lessons can we take from her story? What do you think will happen?
Going Further
China is a vast market that has provided a huge growth opportunity for sports organizations, including Premier League soccer, the National Basketball Association and professional tennis and golf. And the Olympics in Beijing are less than two months away, with over 80 nations participating.
The women’s professional tennis tour has suspended all tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, in response to Ms. Peng’s disappearance from public life. Some individuals, like the N.B.A. star Enes Kanter, a vocal critic of the Chinese government, have called for the Winter Games to be moved from Beijing.
What do you think should be done? Should other sports leagues follow the Women’s Tennis Association’s lead and suspend all play in China? Should nations boycott the Winter Olympics? How can ordinary citizens support the #WhereisPengShuai campaign on social media?
To help form your opinion, you can explore these Times articles:
Additional Teaching and Learning Opportunities
Learn more about the story of the disappearance of Peng Shuai:
Read one or more of the Times articles below reporting on the situation. Then respond to these questions in writing or with a partner: What is your reaction to the article? What was the most provocative, surprising or memorable thing you learned? How does the article add to your understanding of Ms. Peng’s story? What further questions does it raise for you?
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