Can Pop Culture Really Bring About Social Gender Change in Chinese Society

Abstract

With the popularity of the idol talent show in Chinese market, the size of the fan base has escalated and this has contributed to an awakening of the audience's aesthetic awareness. In order to study whether popular culture can be used as a positive social change tool to change audience' attitudes towards gender, and ultimately to an effect positive changes in gender culture in Chinese society. This article uses the methodology of digital ethnography to analyse the contestants with “gender temperament” in reality TV shows.It is positive to note that the gender diversity presented in the pop culture shows that gender culture for Chinese society is undergoing a positive change. However, many viewers are continuing to make discriminatory comments about the contestants with the “gender temperament”, which indicate that gender stereotype is still exist.