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- ISSN: 2382-6282 (Print); 2972-3108 (Online)
- Abbreviated Title: Int. J. Lang. Lit. Linguist.
- Frequency: Bimonthly
- DOI: 10.18178/IJLLL
- Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Jason Miin-Hwa Lim
- Managing Editor: Jennifer X. Zeng
- Indexed by: CNKI, Google Scholar, Crossref,
- E-mail: ijlll_Editor@126.com
IJLLL 2022 Vol.8(3): 204-207 ISSN: 2382-6282
DOI: 10.18178/IJLLL.2022.8.3.349
DOI: 10.18178/IJLLL.2022.8.3.349
Behind ‘mansplain’: The Challenging of Colonialism in Girls’ Response in a Chat Group
Ruoyi Fang
Abstract—In this paper, I look at how the intersectionality of
feminism and colonialism on Tinder – one of the biggest dating
Apps – contributes to the production and circulation of gender
tensions in modern China. To do so, I have been staying in a
particular chat group for half a year, created by a female
Tinder user who shows strong dissatisfaction with Chinese men
on Tinder and now includes more than 300 women holding
similar values. They frequently share experiences of using
Tinder characterized by taunting, complaining, and swearing
towards a particular type of male Tinder users who were
“typical Chinese men” in their eyes.
During this time, I collected various data: the male profiles, chat records on Tinder and in the group, how and why females rename themselves mockingly targeting such males. I adopt Linguistic Ethnography to analyze the emerging discourses that shape the large gender tensions. I aim to show that the logic underlying why the mocking is always related to western culture. These men are annoyed about Chinese females getting in touch with western men, calling them “easy girl” and teaching women patronizingly. However, they simultaneously use profiles with foreigners, western education backgrounds and introduce themselves in English to show off their charm to win the woman's attention. In response, girls sometimes deliberately provoke these men by praising western men and comment on the resulted conversations in the chat group.
Based on this analysis, I argue that the patriotism enacted by these men is challenged by the group whose mocking as a discursive practice, although on the surface aligned with colonialism (e.g., praising western males), constitutes a form of anticolonialism potentially advancing the ongoing gender movement in China. Furthermore, this group's practice points to further research on dating platforms and females on the frontline of gender tension.
Index Terms—Colonialism, females, gender, westernization.
The author is with the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT UK (e-mail: ruoyieva@gmail.com).
During this time, I collected various data: the male profiles, chat records on Tinder and in the group, how and why females rename themselves mockingly targeting such males. I adopt Linguistic Ethnography to analyze the emerging discourses that shape the large gender tensions. I aim to show that the logic underlying why the mocking is always related to western culture. These men are annoyed about Chinese females getting in touch with western men, calling them “easy girl” and teaching women patronizingly. However, they simultaneously use profiles with foreigners, western education backgrounds and introduce themselves in English to show off their charm to win the woman's attention. In response, girls sometimes deliberately provoke these men by praising western men and comment on the resulted conversations in the chat group.
Based on this analysis, I argue that the patriotism enacted by these men is challenged by the group whose mocking as a discursive practice, although on the surface aligned with colonialism (e.g., praising western males), constitutes a form of anticolonialism potentially advancing the ongoing gender movement in China. Furthermore, this group's practice points to further research on dating platforms and females on the frontline of gender tension.
Index Terms—Colonialism, females, gender, westernization.
The author is with the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT UK (e-mail: ruoyieva@gmail.com).
Cite:Ruoyi Fang, "Behind ‘mansplain’: The Challenging of Colonialism in Girls’ Response in a Chat Group," International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 204-207, 2022.