Doing gender, performing marriage: A study of China's xinghun marriage ads

Abstract

This study examines why Chinese gay individuals pursue xinghun, a performative union between a gay man and a lesbian woman, and how they navigate societal heteronormativity. Analyzing 3957 online personal ads, we found that parental pressure is the primary motivator for gay individuals seeking xinghun. Male xinghun seekers were more likely to endorse traditional gender expression and expect their partners to fulfill gendered family obligations. Our results also indicated that the imaginings of marriage and family among xinghun seekers were limited by normative gendered discourse, as they often unconsciously legitimized essentialist gender norms and rejected their own subjectivities. These findings suggest that despite rapid social changes in China, sexual minorities still face considerable heteronormative hegemony and pressure of marriage. The phenomenon of xinghun provides a new alternative for Chinese gay individuals to negotiate between societal expectations and their personal desires, yet it also highlights the limitations and challenges of such negotiations.