Exploring the Experiences of Digital Activists in Anti-Sexual Violence Movements on Social Media in the Context of China_ A Cross-platform Comparison of Affect, Censorship, and Coping Strategies on Weibo and Zhihu
Abstract
Since the 2010s, there has been an unprecedented surge in digital activism against sexual violence worldwide. As this activism spreads across diverse geographical and sociocultural contexts, participants’ experiences can vary significantly due to the unique challenges and opportunities in each region. Riding the wave of a global surge in digital feminist activism, digital activism against sexual violence has been making significant strides in China, despite facing obstacles from censorship. This integrated thesis consisting of three articles investigates digital activism against sexual violence in the Chinese context with a focus on the affective dimension of the activism that shapes activists’ experience of participation. In Article One, we found that negative emotions, particularly anger and fear, overshadow positive emotions like joy and trust. We also identified three main categories of linguistic and narrative elements of emotion and affect, which not only motivated participants to engage in anti-sexual violence activism, but also highlighted the lingering sentiments associated with censorship, traditional Confucian values, and the misogyny that hinders participation.
Article Two explored the censorship experiences of feminist activists in China. It found strong cognitive and affective reactance among participants, with frustration and anger driving them to restore their freedom. Activists used direct and indirect means to regain their lost freedom threatened by censorship, including seeking and disseminating censored information, and reinterpreting the state’s positive energy motto. Article Three examined how activists against sexual violence cope with stress. It found that activists’ agency played a crucial role in developing their strategies, from appraising stressors to developing coping methods. Activists face unique challenges in China, and their choice of coping strategies—emotional or problem-focused—depends on their assessment of conditions and self-efficacy. While social media literacy aids in problem-focused strategies, there's a lack of collective coping efforts within the community.
This thesis’ contributions include acknowledging the shared experiences of activists advocating against sexual violence in China, providing a cross-platform perspective on digital activism, reflecting on the ethical considerations and challenges of studying a sensitive topic.