Feminism without guarantees: Reflections on teaching and researching feminist activism in China

The current status of feminism in China reflects its precariousness as a school of thought, an activist practice, and a topic of study. By historicizing the study and practice of feminism since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, this essay reflects upon conducting research and teaching feminist activism in contemporary China. The shift from state feminism to NGO feminism to a loose and current network of feminists who greatly rely on digital media and the internet for their visibility and advocacy sits in accordance with the liberation of the market, the proliferation of consumer culture, the embrace of all things feminine, and the convergence of state control and market capitalism. Ever-evolving gender dynamics in Chinese society oblige researchers to investigate these dynamics when they seek to explain Chinese feminist activism, given the nuances of history, transnational influence, impact of media and technology, and specific geopolitical factors.