
Thesis Format
Integrated Article
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Program
Media Studies
Supervisor
Quan-Haase, Anabel
2nd Supervisor
Streeter, Tom
3rd Supervisor
Redden, Joanna
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.
Summary for Lay Audience
Since the 2010s, digital activism against sexual violence has surged worldwide. As this movement spreads across different regions and cultures, the experiences of participants can vary due to unique local challenges and opportunities. The strict media censorship in China, combined with the global rise of digital feminist activism, makes studying this activism in China particularly interesting.
This thesis, examines digital activism against sexual violence in China, focusing on how emotions influence activists’ experiences. In the first article, we found that negative emotions like anger and fear were more common than positive ones like joy and trust. This gives us a picture of the emotional landscape of digital activism against sexual violence. We also identified three main areas of emotion and affect, showing how the affective dimensions are shaped by censorship, traditional Confucian values, and misogyny.
The second article looks at the experiences of feminist activists with censorship in China. It found that participants often felt strong frustration and anger, motivating them to fight for 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.
The third article explores how activists against sexual violence cope with stress. It found that their agency—the ability to understand the stressor and take action—is crucial in their coping coping strategies. We found that activists in China face unique challenges, and their choice of coping strategies, whether emotional or problem-focused, depends on their assessment of the situation and their confidence in handling it. While digital literacy is crucial in problem-focused strategies, there is a lack of collective coping efforts, highlighting the limited options available to feminist activists.
These articles form a thesis that deepens our understanding of digital activism against sexual violence in China. The key contributions include recognizing the shared experiences of Chinese activists, offering a cross-platform view of digital activism, and reflecting on the ethical considerations and challenges of studying this sensitive topic.
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Jinman, "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" (2024). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 10588.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/10588
Included in
Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Other Film and Media Studies Commons