Cognitive Gender Differences in Comments to Gender-Related Hot Topics on Chinese Social Media

Abstract

In contemporary society, issues of women’s rights and gender equality have always been a focus of attention. Despite some progress made over the past few decades, gender inequality persists across various fields, sparking a series of feminist movements and actions. In China, a unique gender equality concern—the “bride price”—has garnered significant attention. As part of traditional Chinese wedding customs, the bride price symbolizes the groom’s respect for the bride. Nevertheless, in modern society, the escalating bride price amounts have led to differences in perceptions and competitive mindsets, making it a significant point of conflict within marriages. This paper analyses the commentary content on topics such as childbirth, the workplace, sexual assault, and the bride price on China’s social media platform, Weibo. Using textual analysis, it examines the emotional differences and content variations in comments between genders. The research reveals that female bloggers (67%) are more engaged in discussions related to gender issues than males (33%). Word frequency analysis shows similar concerns across topics, but men tend to prioritize material and financial aspects,” when discussing bride price. Women, on the other hand, express dissatisfaction through personal experiences, while men tend to consider the issue from their own perspectives.