Ai Xiaoming, born in 1953, is a retired professor at the Sun Yat-sen University. She was the director of contemporary Chinese literature teaching and researching office, the creator and director of comparative literature and international literature teaching and researching office. She initiated and directed the Sex/Gender Education Forum program at the Sun Yat-sen University. Professor Ai is a prominent human rights activist and an independent documentary film maker. She received tens of awards to recognize her human rights work and documentary productions, including Simone de Beauvoir Prize 2010.

(Photography: ZENG Jinyan)