A Feminist Reading of Chinas Digital Public Sphere [Hardcover]

This book makes an original contribution to the field of feminist cultural studies through an analysis of the gender-politics axis established in Chinas digital public sphere. While a growing body of literature in contemporary feminist cultural studies has turned attention to the Chinese environment, scholarship remains limited in exploring the intersection of gender and politics in the context of Chinese digital cultures. This book addresses this timely topic. It will appeal to both scholars and students interested in exploring the complex, dynamic interplay between digital cultures, public expressions, as well as representations and perceptions of gender reflected in Chinese Internet users everyday communicative practice from a feminist media studies perspective.

1. Introduction.- 2. Social Transformation and Digital Cultures in the Post-Reform Era.- 3. The Gendered Nature of China's Digital Public Sphere.- 4. Pseudo-Feminism and Chinese Digital Influencers.- 5. Debates between Women and Men on Gender Issues.- 6. Stereotyping Women in Powerful Positions.- 7. Conclusion.

Altman Yuzhu Peng (PhD, Newcastle University, UK) is a Lecturer in PR & Global Communications at Newcastle University (UK).Chinese society is often held to be patriarchal and misogynistic. The introduction of digital communications and particularly social media in their various forms might well have been expected to lead to change. Altman Yuzhu Peng not only challenges this assumption but demonstrates how in several ways the use and development of social media in China have if anything strengthened the degrees of patriarchy and misogyny that characterise public life.

- David S. G. Goodman, Professor of China Studies, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China P.R.

 Altman Yuzhu Pengs timely and important feminist study examines the genderlcQ