Articles

Exploring Postfeminist Humor as a Collective Form of Resistance to Anti-feminism in China: A Textual Analysis of Radical Feminist Discourse on Weibo

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Abstract

This study explores the multifaceted feminist discourses embedded in postfeminist humor within the Chinese digital feminist movement. Drawing on textual and thematic analysis of posts from radical feminist communities on Weibo, this study demonstrates how humor disrupts the depoliticized surface of postfeminist discourse. It combines both restrictive and subversive elements, epitomizing feminist radicalism while often provoking anti-feminist backlash, not only from the broader online discursive landscape but also from within feminist communities, particularly among women. These discursive tensions reveal the dialectical challenges within the postfeminist paradox and the layered nature of humor in Chinese feminist discourse. The semantic ambiguity highlights the need for careful interpretation and constructive dialogue between competing feminist discourses and broader publics to move beyond the current polarized landscape in Chinese feminist discourse. 

Keywords: Weibo, China, Humor, Anti-feminism, Postfeminism, Digital feminism

How to Cite:

Wu, Q., (2025) “Exploring Postfeminist Humor as a Collective Form of Resistance to Anti-feminism in China: A Textual Analysis of Radical Feminist Discourse on Weibo”, DiGeSt - Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies 12(1), 69-83. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/digest.91541