The Dilemma of Women Participating in the Discussion of Public Issues on Weibo: A Case Study of Sichuan Changing the Rule for Birth Registration

Abstract

Weibo, as a new channel for online political participation and a becoming important platform for the feminist movement, has become the most important Internet public sphere in China, and more and more women are participating in the discussion of public issues on Weibo. This research focuses on the dilemma of women participating in the discussion of public issues on Weibo through a case study of Sichuan changing the rule for birth registration. Based on the three characteristics of Weibo: freedom, immediacy, and interactivity, this study selects the discussion period of the night of the announcement that is worth studying, which was intense and the sample size was large. A total of 282 valid data from Weibo users and the observations on the discussion of the rule demonstrate that traditional moral values have a profound influence on women. Women still need to improve their subjective awareness and improve their participation and influence in the discussion of public affairs, while men need to increase their attention to the dilemma of women. Weibo platform must simultaneously reduce its restrictions on free speech. The government should spread education about gender equality and protect victims.