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The term ‘Contradiction’ (矛盾) characterized gender and social relations in 2021. With a growing wave of feminism impacting various realms such as comedy and podcasting, online battles emerged in cyberspace between feminists and anti-feminists, with both groups expressing greater hostility than ever before.
Simultaneously, 2021 witnessed the Communist Party of China (CPC) intensifying efforts to reinvigorate traditional notions of femininity while also advancing a more stoic masculine ideal. Policies set forth by the party and state intertwined with a growing divergence of opinions within Chinese society on topics such as gender, women's rights, and men's roles. This led to fervent discussions regarding the definitions of social, economic, and familial roles for men and women, as well as their respective rights and interests.
Despite challenges, including the 2015 arrest of the ‘Feminist Five’ for protesting sexual harassment on public transport, feminist voices gained traction in subsequent years. Building on campaigns like ‘Occupying Men’s Toilets’ and ‘Bloody Brides Against Domestic Violence’ launched in 2012, as well as the #MeToo movement that took off in 2018 and the #SeeingFemaleWorkers campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many Chinese women (and men) continued to advocate for women's rights and gender equality while condemning harmful stereotypes.
In January, PurCotton, a Chinese cotton product manufacturer, released an online advertisement featuring a young woman being stalked at night. She uses a PurCotton towelette to wipe her makeup off, revealing an unattractive male face and causing the stalker to flee. This ad sparked outrage among tens of thousands of netizens, women's rights advocates, and Chinese media for its objectification of women and victim-blaming. As a response to the backlash, the company removed the ad and issued an apology, although their lengthy statement further incensed netizens due to its self-promotional content.
That same month, Bilibili, a popular Chinese video-sharing platform, aired the Japanese anime series Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. The series attracted criticism after a leading male live-streamer on the site denounced it for its misogynistic content, which included scenes of sexual exploitation. The ensuing uproar prompted several brands, including UKISS and Sofy, to sever their associations with Bilibili, resulting in the removal of offending episodes from the platform.
In February, the spotlight shifted to a Chinese underwear brand called Ubras. Celebrity talk show host Li Dan promoted their products by stating they empowered women to succeed simply by taking it easy in the workplace. This ad led to accusations of implying women achieve workplace success through their sexuality, prompting an apology from Li and the brand following public backlash and calls for a boycott.
Another incident occurred in June involving artist Song Ta and his exhibition titled ‘Uglier and Uglier’ at OCAT Shanghai. Song secretly filmed 5,000 young women on a college campus, editing the footage into a lengthy video that displayed photographs with attractiveness ratings. This exhibition incited public outrage, as did Song's previous remarks regarding the prevalence of ‘ugly women’ at a single institution. The exhibition was ultimately removed due to its disrespectful and offensive nature.
These events highlighted the sexism arising from the rapid commercialization in contemporary China while also demonstrating a heightened awareness of gender inequality and the growing strength of Chinese feminism.
The issue of sexual harassment was further highlighted by a case involving a female Alibaba employee who reported being sexually assaulted during a work trip. The police initially failed to act, and it was only after significant public pressure that the company dismissed the perpetrator. This incident illustrated the interplay between power dynamics, male privilege, and violence against women.
The arrest of Chinese-Canadian singer Kris Wu in July on rape charges brought other complications to the discourse, as some viewed it as a significant win for women's rights, while his supporters fervently defended him. This incident led to increased scrutiny of celebrity culture and resulted in a government crackdown on ‘unhealthy’ fan culture.
As feminist voices grew louder, a ‘gender war’ unfolded online where insults were exchanged between both sides. Debates arose regarding topics such as ‘surnaming rights’, which gained attention after a woman shared her experience of suing for divorce when her husband refused to give their baby her surname. This story ignited discussions about equal rights and responsibilities, and various public figures faced backlash for dismissive comments about women adopting their mother’s surnames.
Stand-up comedian Yang Li also sparked controversy with a joke about men’s confidence amidst mediocrity, resulting in intense online backlash. While some supported her, others labeled her an aggressive feminist, leading to a larger conversation about men’s expectations and portrayal in society.
Despite the challenges, such controversies reflect the limited but present possibilities for the growth of feminism in China. The CPC has been cautious about grassroots movements, often censoring discussions
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Xi Jinping, the leading figure of the People's Republic of China (PRC), conducted a four-day 'investigative tour' of eastern Xinjiang in mid-July—marking his first visit to the Uyghur Region since 2014. At first glance, the trip and its public narrative seem similar to those of his predecessors. However, the ideological emphasis of Xi's comments during the visit centered on a historical account showcasing an innate sense of Zhonghuaness, where Uyghurs, Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, and other indigenous peoples of Xinjiang were included from the outset. This narrative is notably inclusive, minimizing non-Han ethnic identities not by rejecting them, but by subsuming them into a broader, constructed category. In essence, Xi’s interpretation of Zhonghua-ism has harnessed the notion of a collective identity for colonial objectives, emphasizing a shared history, common territory, and a sense of unity expressed through 'root veins.'
Even with challenges like the arrest of the 'Feminist Five' in 2015 for advocating against sexual harassment on public transport, feminist voices in China have become more prominent in recent years.