Unleashing voices: How Uncensored Feminist Podcasts Broaden the Discourse on Gender Issues in Mainland China

This study investigates several feminist podcasts from the Chinese diaspora as alternative media platforms that circumvent the restrictive gender discourse within Mainland China’s tightly controlled media environment. By examining three such podcasts—two available on mainland platforms and one blocked by the Chinese government—I explore the potential of these podcasts to broaden gender-related discussions and enhance the understanding of gender identity among Chinese listeners. Employing semi-structured interviews with podcast creators, this study offers first-hand perspectives on how these platforms navigate censorship, using subscription-based technologies, to maintain a connection with their audiences. The findings reveal the complexities of feminist media in China, including the inevitability of censorship on media with ambitions for social change and the phenomenon of mob censorship, which stifles in-depth public discourse. Overall, this study contributes to the discourse on gender politics and the public sphere in China, highlighting the role of alternative media in advocating for gender equality.