Narrated oppressive mechanisms: Chinese audiences’ receptions of effeminate masculinity

Abstract

Masculinities are widely believed to be oppressive mechanisms for men, but a detailed, systematic picture of these concrete mechanisms is largely lacking. The present analysis of audience reception illustrates four oppressive mechanisms of effeminate-masculinity acting on straight men: normative conceptualization, emotional distancing, discursive stigmatization, and behavioral punishment. The sub-dimensions of these four oppressive mechanisms are also discussed, particularly emotional aversion, patriarchal contempt, stigmatic labeling, essentialist classification, and isolation. Moreover, the symbolic codes of hegemonic masculinity and effeminate masculinity in the Chinese context are explicated. Based on the analysis, flight from the feminine is the core characteristic of Chinese hegemonic masculinity and the source of discrimination against effeminate masculinity. These oppressive mechanisms found in the Chinese context can enrich understanding of the broad literature on masculinities. It is highly possible that the narrated mechanisms also exist in the reception of masculinities in other cases. The clear pattern found in the present case, therefore, is meaningful and relevant for future studies.