Visual Representations of Sexual Minorities in Chinese Newspapers

Abstract

Same-sex sexuality remains a prevalent taboo in many cultures and societies globally. In the past decade, scholars from various fields have increasingly examined how sexual minorities (SMs) are represented. The present paper contributes to this growing research by addressing two notable gaps. First, since much of the existing research centers on Western contexts, there is limited study on the portrayal of SMs within the Chinese cultural framework. Second, past studies emphasize verbal portrayals, often sidelining the importance of visual representations. This article will report and analyze the photos gathered from two prominent Chinese newspapers, China Daily and Global Times, pertaining to SMs in mainland China. By drawing on Van Leeuwen’s visual social actor network, the article reveals that Chinese SMs most often are visually represented as victims, disguisers, warriors, and elitists. Finally, we explore the socio-cultural influences behind these representation patterns.