Anonymous Expression in an Online Community for Women in China

Abstract

Gender issues faced by women can range from workplace harassment to domestic violence. While publicly disclosing these issues on social media can be hard, some may incline to express themselves anonymously. We approached such an anonymous female community on Chinese social media where discussion on gender issues takes place with a qualitative content analysis. By observing anonymous experiences contributed by female users and made publicly available by an influencer, we identified 20 issues commonly discussed, with cheating-partner, controlling parents and age anxiety taking the lead. By describing the anonymously expressed social challenges faced by women in China, in the context of Chinese cultures and expectations about gender, we aim to motivate more policies and platform designs to accommodate the needs of the affected population.