In the intricate landscape of social media, conversations around gender roles and expectations are as diverse and complex as the millions of users that inhabit the online space. In a realm where identities are often constructed and deconstructed, the cyberspace becomes a battleground and sanctuary for discussions on gender and sexuality. Similar to the perspectives presented in “#nohomo” by Onnie Ruberg, the virtual world is a mirror reflecting the intricate and often contentious negotiations of gender identity and expressions in real time.

Challenging the Norms: Li Jiaqi’s Revolution

Li Jiaqi, often referred to as China’s “Lipstick King”, has established a niche for himself in a field traditionally reserved for women. With his infectious energy and candid reviews, Li has become a household name, not just in the realm of beauty influencers but in the broader spectrum of Chinese pop culture. Each live stream garners millions of views, with audiences of all ages and genders.

In a society where traditional gender norms are still deeply entrenched, Li’s rise to fame represents a shifting paradigm. He expertly applies lipstick shades, assesses their texture and longevity, and even models skincare products with an expertise that transcends gender boundaries. Li doesn’t just sell products; he is a storyteller, weaving narratives that resonate with a broad audience, including those who exist outside of the traditional female demographic of beauty consumers.

While Li’s popularity is a testament to the evolving attitudes towards gender, it also serves as a reminder of the tensions that exist. Each lipstick applied is both an endorsement of a more flexible understanding of gender and a prompt that incites discussions, debates, and at times, vehement opposition. As Li Jiaqi gains acceptance and even adoration for his embrace of feminine products, it also highlights the complexities and inconsistencies ingrained in societal perceptions of gender. Each live stream of his is not just a product review but a subtle challenge to the deeply rooted norms that continue to shape expectations of what is ‘appropriate’ for men and women.

When Personal Expression Meets Societal Backlash: Zheng Linghua’s Struggle

The vibrancy of self-expression online, however, isn’t always met with celebration. A 23-year-old woman’s choice to dye her hair pink became a tragic example.

Zheng Linghua’s journey into the public eye began innocuously – a joyful moment captured in a photograph. The image depicted the young woman, her hair dyed a vibrant shade of pink, proudly displaying her graduate school acceptance letter, a symbol of her academic achievements and promising future. She shared this milestone online, eager to spread the joy with friends, family, and the world. Her ailing grandfather, a pillar of support in her life, is the intended audience, for whom this accomplishment held particular significance.

However, the reception online proved to be anything but celebratory. The pink hue of Zheng’s hair, rather than her monumental academic achievement, became the focal point of attention. She was inundated with derogatory labels, drowning in a sea of cyberbullying fueled by deeply ingrained conservative views on femininity and propriety. Comments like “Good girl will not dye her hair like this” and labels associated with immorality were directed at her, sometimes accompanying with a toxic narrative designed to degrade her achievements and character.

Zheng tried to defend her choice, a mere personal preference, but the tide of hostility and prejudice anchored in traditional and rigid gender norms was overwhelming.
As the online taunts and attacks continued, she was diagnosed with depression, a corrosive mental state in which the light of joy and hope dims and the shadows of misery and agony loom large. Every word, every critique pierced her like a dagger, a constant reminder of society’s inability to accept her for who she was, or a girl to embody her own idea of femininity.

A spirit once radiant and full of life was now eclipsed by the overbearing darkness of cyberbullying. Her vibrant pink hair, once a symbol of individuality and joy, was now a trigger for scorn and ridicule. In an act of despair, Zheng returned her hair to its natural black color, a forced submission to society conventions that did not stop the online abuse.

As her battle with depression intensified, Zheng’s emotional fortitude waned. The ceaseless attacks, the insulting comments, and the relentless public scrutiny proved unbearable. On January 23, 2023, succumbing to the inexorable pressure of the online vitriol and societal judgment, Zheng Linghua ended her life.

The tragic death of Zheng highlights the powerful influence of ingrained gender norms and expectations. Her story is an alarming illustration of the dangers that can arise when personal expressions of originality collide with rigid social standards.

Young Minds, Old Stereotypes: Girl Who Loves Robotics

In the public domains of social media, children are often unwitting participants in the greater dialogue surrounding gender norms and expectations. A vivid example can be observed in the case of a young Chinese girl, Yifan, who exhibited a deep interest in robotics and technology. When her mother, Li, proudly shared Yifan’s latest creation – a miniature automated car crafted from spare parts – the reactions were a mix of admiration and unsolicited criticism.

Comments highlighting the girl’s intelligence and ingenuity were overshadowed by those questioning the appropriateness of her interests in trucks rather than dolls, deemed ‘unfeminine’ by traditional standards. The public’s response underscores the prevailing challenge; the freedom to deviate from established gender norms is still, to a significant extent, curtailed by societal expectations.

 

Global Echoes

In the West, the landscape is similarly complex. When British actor Daniel Craig was photographed carrying his infant daughter in a baby carrier, traditional gender role advocates criticized him, whereas many others celebrated the image as a modern representation of fatherhood.

Childrens, too, aren’t immune to this global narrative. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, the daughter of celebrities Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, was frequently spotted wearing “gender-bending tomboy outfits,” short hairstyles, and occasionally playing with toys that weren’t considered “for girls” when she was little. The reactions of the media and the general public to these photos were mixed. Some praised Brad and Angelina for allowing their child to express themselves freely, while others critiqued or questioned Brad and Angelina’s parenting, reiterating entrenched beliefs about ‘proper’ female behavior.

Another case in point is that of Rebecca Black. The immediate and retrospective criticism following the release of her “Friday” music video serves as a stark reminder of the potent interplay of gender and social media. The video became a site of gendered confrontation, where Black’s adolescent female voice and identity were subjected to unbridled scrutiny and masculinization. The public animosity unveiled the entrenched biases embedded within the fabric of social media interactions.

These instances, though oceans apart, are united by the common thread of deeply rooted gender expectations that traverse cultural and geographical boundaries.

Conclusion

In the dialogues of gender norms echoed through the corridors of social media, the stories of Yifan and Alex, Zheng Linghua, and Li Jiaqi are chapters of a larger narrative. They expose the fissures and the bridges in a global conversation striving to reconcile tradition with evolution, established norms with emerging identities.

As we delve deeper into these individual stories, it underscores a journey where the lines defining gender are not just being blurred but are being redrawn, reshaped, and reimagined. Each story, each example, not only reveals the conflicts and confrontations but also unveils the subtle shifts, the quiet transformations that are incrementally reshaping societal norms.

In the interconnected tales of a girl building robots, a woman with pink hair, and a man who has transcended traditional gender boundaries in the beauty industry, human expression arises, and is as varied as it is vibrant.

It is within this complex mosaic that the future of gender norms is being sculpted. Each voice, whether dissenting or affirming, is instrumental in crafting a more nuanced, inclusive future. A future where the hues of individual expressions are not confined by the monochromatic boundaries of traditional norms but are celebrated in their splendid diversity, paving the way for a world that embraces and uplifts every shade of human identity.

 

Reference

1. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-45873664
2. https://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/shiloh-jolie-pitt-now-143408/
3. https://mbd.baidu.com/newspage/data/dtlandingwise?nid=dt_5972191771834265487&sourceFrom=homepage