The New Generation of Chinese Women in the Age of Internet

Abstract

Since internet was introduced into China in 1995, it has developed rapidly. Along with the swift increase of internet users, we have witnessed the narrowing-down gender gap in internet usage. All major websites in China created female WebPages, discussing a large array of topics related to women, especially young women. How did emergence and spread of internet affect gender relations? Has it, as some scholars expected, allowed more opportunities and freedom for women to voice their concerns by constructing a world where actors are able to hide their physical identity, including race, gender, career and age? Or, did it deteriorate women’s situation by publishing WebPages that largely conform to male taste and male style? Through examination of female WebPages created, owned and run by four major Chinese websites: Sina.com, Sohu.com, NetEase.com, and QQ.com, this paper tries to offer answers to the above questions. It will also demonstrate that, similar to turbid press of misquote papers popular among urbanites, these female WebPages have reflected and also shaped Chinese city girls’ values in an increasingly commercialized society.