Cultured Forbearance and Gendered Policing in China

• In Event: Poster Session: Comparative Politics II

Abstract

Forbearance occurs when laws go under-enforced for reasons other than state capacity or bureaucratic control, such as when politicians intervene, by way of legal or regulatory lenience, to court favor with otherwise liable constituencies. When directed toward marginalized groups, forbearance can serve as a form of redistributive justice. Nevertheless, politically motivated forbearance, by definition, benefits politicians at the expense of the state. This paper explores an alternative motive for forbearance, namely culture, which could result in leniency even in the absence of political motive. In particular, the paper exploits a survey experiment conducted on Chinese police officers tasked with enforcing masking rules during the height of China's Covid-19 pandemic. Experimental results show that officers impose lower fines on women than men and that gendered leniency is stronger among male officers. Mediation analysis further shows that gendered forbearance is not significantly impacted by either professional risks or public scrutiny, suggesting a cultural norm that extends broadly into state and society.

Author

• Xiaoxia Huang, Syracuse University