Unveiling Gender Power Dynamics in Chinese Digital Discourse: A Case Study of the Discourse of Mutual Accusations in Allegations of Sexual Harassment

Aiyu Chen

doi:10.54097/ehss.v23i.13140

Authors

Aiyu Chen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/ehss.v23i.13140

Keywords:

Sexual harassment; digital discourse; MCDA; victimhood; anoymization; female accusers; gender politics.

Abstract

This study stems from a case involving a prominent Chinese internet celebrity whose account suspension followed her sexual harassment allegation. Subsequent online discussions on Weibo saw both the accuser and accused strategically presenting themselves as victims using text, imagery, and evidence, while official statements and public evaluations added complexity to the discourse. Employing the MCDA approach, the research analyzed data from Weibo posts under the ‘XHJ incident’ hashtag, amounting to a total of 23,569 outcomes. This analysis delves comprehensively into competitive and collective victimhood, strategic anonymization, and challenges faced by female accusers in public discourse. The case study shows that competitive victimhood in digital contexts intersects with gendered narratives, extending to construct collective victimhood within intricate power dynamics and inadvertently oversimplifying nuanced experiences of sexual harassment through anonymization and functionalization strategies. Furthermore, it provides insights into challenges encountered by female accusers in the public discourse, including perpetuated doubt about women's credibility and intentions, contributing to silencing and disempowerment.

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