Weibo Feminism: Expression, Activism, and Social Media in China

Description

On China’s biggest social media platform, Weibo, feminists are staying one step ahead of the censors. Weibo Feminism is the first book to explore in-depth the connections and forms of resistance that feminist activists in China are making in online spaces despite increasing crackdowns on free speech and public expression. Aviva Wei Xue and Kate Rose explore the many forms of contemporary feminism in China, from activist campaigns against sexual harassment and domestic violence, through to Weibo Reading groups of feminist texts and subversive online novels published on the platform. The book includes an in-depth case study of feminist support networks for overwhelmingly female frontline medical staff that have sprung up on social media in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Weibo Feminism goes on to asks what lessons are being learned in contemporary China for the cause of social justice for women around the world. Cover Halftitle page Title page Copyright page Contents Illustrations INTRODUCTION Scattered Revolutions Spark the Masses 1 Feminist Outbreaks in the Digital World Stand by her: Feminists Against Hijacking Courageous Women Confront the Information Blockade Misogynistic Propaganda and Feminist Counter-narratives “Jiang Shanjiao, Do you Get Your Period?” 2 Spreading Feminism Online The Chinese Cult of History Restoring Women’s Words Reconstructing the History of Chinese Feminism Forgotten Armies of Women Personal Revolts Change Politics Opposing Marriage Matters Opposing Confucian Filial Obligations 3 Hijacking Reproductive Rights The Only Daughter’s Dilemma Injustice in Public Policies: The Hegemony of Patriarchy A Unified Anti-surrogacy Stance In a Delicate Suspension: Legal Gray Areas Women Warning Women Reconsidering the LGBTQ Alliance The Rise of Womb Morality 4 Intersectionality Under the Radar Indiginizing Feminist Writings Breaking with Sino-Western Binarism Transnational Activism Voices from Minority Women in China Half the Nation, Yet Without Country Socialist Feminism: Intersectional Discussions of Women and Class From Intersectional Criticism to Activism 5 The Politics of Feminist Word-play Politics in Characters Words and what they Carry Closing the Gap Through Matrilineal Revival Retrieving Lost Treasures in Literature Feminist Literary Creations on Weibo Conclusion “You Forbid Us to Gather Anywhere, So We Will be Everywhere:” Weibo Feminism as a Global Solution Notes Bibliography Index