https://doi.org/10.1177/0920203X18807083
China Information
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DOI: 10.1177/0920203X18807083
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INFORMATION
Nudity, feminists, and Chinese
online censorship: A case study
on the anti-domestic violence
campaign on SinaWeibo
Ling Han
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Chengpang Lee
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Abstract
Chinese feminist activists are actively participating in the Chinese online public sphere. In
this study, we examine a case – the Anti-Domestic Violence with Nude Photos Campaign
(裸照反家暴活动) – and the response of Chinese online censorship to this campaign.
Campaign activists used nude photos to mobilize the public’s support. According to the
existing theoretical perspectives such as the collective action potential theory, this kind
of online campaign with pornographic elements and the potential to mobilize people
is very likely to be censored. Counter to this expectation, we found that not all of
the original photos were removed. Our finding suggests that the interactive manner
in which activists responded to the public on SinaWeibo’s discussion threads matters
in terms of the degree of censorship. This study complements the existing studies on
the Chinese online censorship system, echoes scholars’ call for studies on censorship
from a more interactive angle, and furthers our understanding of the Chinese feminist
movement.
Keywords
online activism, censorship, feminist movement, anti-domestic violence, online
interaction, microblogs
Corresponding author:
Ling Han, Asia Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy, National University of Singapore, BIZ 2
Building #5-13, 1 Business Link, Singapore 117592.
Email: linghan@nus.edu.sg
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