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Thread: Sissy Men

  1. #16
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    How do they judge?

    ‘Sissy Pants’ Celebrities Banned in China
    Beijing fears that feminine men would hurt the country’s ability to fight, experts say.
    By Viola Zhou
    September 2, 2021, 3:13am


    YOUNG, DELICATE-LOOKING MEN HAVE AMASSED LARGE FAN BASES IN CHINA. PHOTO: VISUAL CHINA GROUP VIA GETTY IMAGES
    The Chinese government has ordered a boycott of “sissy pants” celebrities as it escalates a fight against what it sees as a cultural import that threatens China’s national strength.

    In a directive issued on Thursday, China’s TV watchdog said entertainment programs should firmly reject the “deformed aesthetics” of niangpao, a derogatory term that refers to effeminate men.

    The order came as Beijing tightens control over the country’s entertainment industry, taking aim at an explosion of TV and streaming shows that hold increasing sway over pop culture and the youth.

    Young, delicate-looking men who display gentle personalities and act in boys’ love dramas have amassed large fan bases mostly comprising women. Many of them, like Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo, are China’s top-earning celebrities.

    They came in sharp contrast with the older generation of male stars, who were expected to sing revolutionary songs and play intrepid, aggressive soldiers defending the country from foreign enemies.

    But the more gender-neutral aesthetics have come under criticism from conservative voices in society. Some officials and parents fear the less macho men on TV would cause young men to lose their masculinity and therefore threaten the country’s development.

    Earlier this year, the Ministry of Education pledged to promote sports education in Chinese schools in response to a politician’s proposal about “preventing men from becoming too feminine.”

    The latest boycott order is part of a broader response to what the government deems as “chaos” in Chinese entertainment. Days before the order was issued, a commentary published by a Communist Party mouthpiece called the popularity of “sissy pants” a social problem that would distort the taste of the Chinese youth.

    Cui Le, a researcher on queer issues in China with the University of Auckland, said the clampdown on “sissy pants” reflected authorities’ attempt to reinforce mainstream gender roles and resist what they regard as Western gender values.

    “Masculinity is being associated with nationalism,” Cui said. “It’s believed the effeminate male image could mislead young people, hinder the nation’s rejuvenation, and weaken the country’s ability in fighting with others.”

    The pushes for macho men have triggered backlash from an expanding feminist community. Many women feel offended by the term “sissy pants” and the sexist implication that traits associated with women are inferior.

    Some internet users expressed worry that the official rejection of “sissy men” will encourage the kind of toxic masculinity that leads to violence against women, sexual minorities as well as men who do not fit into the traditional macho image.

    “So men should be masculine, as in being dirty and having big bellies,” said one of the top-voted comments on the microblogging site Weibo.

    “‘Sissy’ is the highest compliment for a man,” another person wrote. “It means the person is probably very handsome. He would pay attention to personal hygiene, have good manners, and respect women.”

    Guo Ting, an expert on gender politics in China with the University of Toronto, said young Chinese people have embraced gender-neutral figures in entertainment as a way to challenge the patriarchal culture in real life.

    But the state regards traditional hetero-masculinity as part of its security-focused authoritarian rule, which promotes a need for a strong leader, militarism and aggressive diplomatic rhetoric, she said.

    It’s unclear how the government will define “sissy pants,” but the order is expected to prompt more stringent self-censorship by tech and entertainment companies that are already caught in a sweeping regulatory crackdown.

    Explicitly ****sexual characters are not allowed on Chinese TV, and no prominent mainland Chinese celebrity has come out as gay. Platforms have previously blurred male stars’ earrings and ponytails because of their ostensible association with rebellion and counterculture.

    The Thursday notice also banned idol survival contests and reality shows featuring celebrities’ children––some of the most popular and lucrative genres in the past. Authorities have accused the shows of causing food waste, irrational spending, and harming children’s growth.

    Follow Viola Zhou on Twitter.
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    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
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  2. #17
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    Fu Jiayuan

    China: Teenager apologises for impersonating boy to join band
    Published16 minutes ago


    IMAGE SOURCE,WEIBO
    Fu Jiayuan said she would quit the entertainment industry

    A young girl in China has apologised for "deceiving fans" for trying to join a boy band.

    Fu Jiayuan, 13, said she lied about her gender to a popular management company because she was "young and ignorant".

    Even though she was only part of YGN Youth Club's boot camp, and not an official band member, fans could watch her training videos on social media.

    Ms Fu was forced to speak up after a netizen pointed out that she was in fact a girl.

    YGN Youth Club only recruit young boys, most of whom are aged between 11 and 13. A challenging training programme trains them in song and dance and moulds them into future idols.

    The company said the mistake had been made because auditions for recruitment had been made online due to the pandemic.

    "Our staff were negligent in the work process... In the future, we will adhere strictly to the company's rules and regulations," it said in a statement.

    However, many on social media were amused by the revelation, and jokingly compared Ms Fu to the Chinese folk heroine Mulan.

    According to legend, Mulan was a young woman who disguised herself as a man so she could fight to save her family and country. The story is known globally after it was turned into a Disney film.

    Some social media users said that the incident was "not a big deal".


    IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
    Boy bands are a massive industry in China

    "The look of idol groups is so androgynous these days, so it's hard to tell. Just let her join," a comment with one of the most likes said on microblogging platform Weibo.

    But in her apology note on Weibo, which was posted earlier this week, Ms Fu vowed to quit entertainment forever.

    "I'm sorry to everyone who put their trust in me. I promise I will not show up in the entertainment industry or on any video platforms in the future," she said.

    Companies like YGN Youth Club are widely sought after because families view it as a chance to see their children become rich and famous.

    A study titled the "White paper on idol industry and fan economy in 2019" estimated that China's idol market would reach 100 billion Yuan ($15b; £11b) by 2020.

    TFBoys, for example, which made their showbiz debut in 2013 when its members were 12 and 13, have since become big household names.

    But these management companies have been met with controversy, and criticised for taking advantage of young children for commercial use.

    This comes as China has ramped up its crackdown on the entertainment industry in recent months, including on "effeminate" styles and "vulgar influencers".
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    Author of Shaolin Trips
    Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart

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