Li Yufang said she had never worried about the safety of her son in terms of sexual assault before news of attacks on boys made headlines in the local newspapers and television in her hometown of Hefei, capital of Anhui province.

Before the reports, the 38-year-old mother of two had no idea that such attacks took place. This lack of parental knowledge and an ingrained attitude that girls are more at risk may mean that some boys and young men are more vulnerable to assault because they've never been taught to recognize the danger signs.

When Li's son was born, her father-in-law, Feng Bing, moved in with the young family to take care of the children. Even though his granddaughter now lives at her school, Feng still has to walk his 10-year-old grandson to and from school.