Patchy Feminism: Young Chinese Women’s Perceptions and Practices of Feminism

This thesis focuses on young Chinese women’s perceptions and practices of feminism. It is contextualised within contemporary Chinese society, where feminism is gaining popularity as in the West, yet simultaneously faces unique restrictions driven by gendered norms, censorship, and nationalism-infused anti-feminism. This thesis is a qualitative study that draws on data collected through 40 online semi-structured interviews with young Chinese women aged 18–35 who engage in feminist discussions on social media. By using the theories of postfeminism, the theories of becoming and Chinese feminism, this thesis offers the concept of ‘patchy feminism’ to describe the entanglement between Chinese feminism and the very patriarchal structure it criticises.