The Appeal and Ambivalence of Chinese Popular Feminism: A Study of Feminism on Douban Forum

• In Event: 40417 - Global Feminisms in Action: Resistance, Identity, and Solidarity Across Borders

Abstract

A new trend of popular feminism is rising in Chinese cyberspace, featuring a relatively rudimentary and non-theoretical gender consciousness. In Chinese popular feminists’ actual practice on social media platforms, the ambiguity of their feminist ideas and their aggressiveness against dissidents converge into their complex appeals and ambivalence, reflecting the social and psychological dilemma of contemporary Chinese women. Through discourse analysis of the Douban forum and in-depth interviews with its users, this study delves into the agenda of the more radical wing, currently the predominant voice of Chinese popular feminism on Douban. Findings indicate that Douban’s popular feminists aim to redefine “being a woman” by crafting new gender norms grounded in their feminist beliefs. However, this construction is in nature reactive and therefore has an unresolved ambivalence.

Author

• Wumi Shen, London School of Economics and Political Science