Safe spaces for feminist activists online: Chinese networked feminists’ self-censorship strategies in response to online misogyny and government censorship

Abstract

This study examines the self-censorship strategies employed by Chinese networked feminists to create and maintain online safe spaces in response to both state censorship and online misogyny. Through an analysis of social media platforms like XiaoHongShu, this research highlights how Chinese feminists adapt their activism to resist aggressive censorship and misogynistic backlash, framing self-censorship as a proactive and creative tool rather than a passive response to repression. Drawing on interviews and participant observations, the study reveals how feminist creators utilize coded language, metaphors, and adaptive strategies to subvert platform restrictions while maintaining semi-public digital spaces for feminist discourse. These spaces, unlike the static and rigid safe spaces theorized in Western contexts, are fluid and dynamic, allowing feminists to navigate the complexities of censorship while continuing their activism. By extending theories of safe spaces and digital counterpublics, this research underscores the resilience and adaptability of feminist activists in China, contributing to broader discussions on digital activism, censorship, and feminist theory.

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