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  1. #1
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    Sissy Men

    I was going to post this on the Sissy Fights!! thread as y'all know my penchant for ttt-ing ancient threads (it's all about necromantic-fu). But this topic was just too special so let's just launch something fresh for it.

    Apparently 'sissy men' is trending in China. Anyone know how to say 'sissy man' in Chinese?

    The delicate ‘sissy man’ look isn’t new – it’s been flaunted for centuries by some celebrated Chinese figures
    History has recorded men who have flaunted this image from as far back as the Three Kingdoms period; here’s a look at the four considered the most beautiful

    PUBLISHED : Sunday, 30 September, 2018, 11:03am
    UPDATED : Sunday, 30 September, 2018, 3:01pm
    Phoebe Zhang
    https://twitter.com/dustguest



    Discussion of China’s “sissy men” has gained considerable attention in recent weeks, taking over Chinese social media as internet users debate the trend.

    The phenomenon in Chinese society towards the idolisation of more effeminate-looking male celebrities with delicate “pretty boy” features, as well as a growing openness towards the use of beauty products among men, have been attributed to a range of factors – from fashion to masterful positioning by the cosmetics industry, and empowered modern women driving the trend.

    But did you know that Chinese history has long documented records of others who have flaunted this image from as far back as the Three Kingdoms period?

    Back then, these men were celebrated, and some even had large fan bases.

    Here are those historically recognised as the four most beautiful men in ancient China.


    A rendering of Ji Kang. Image: mafengwo.cn

    Ji Kang (224-263)

    There are many essays recording the life of the thinker, musician and writer in the Three Kingdoms period, describing his good looks and elegant demeanour. They include phrases such as “He has the looks of phoenix and dragons, even though he did not dress up intentionally, his magnificent demeanour can be spotted at once”, and “He has a pretty face, beautiful voice and literary talents.”

    People said that when seen in a crowd, Ji stood out like a crane among hens. Another story said while he was gathering herbs in the mountains, woodcutters who met him thought he was a god.

    A renowned general sentenced Ji to death for refusing to cooperate with him. On the day of the execution, 3,000 students gathered in the square asking the government to pardon Ji and let him teach at the university. Their request was denied. Before being put to death, he asked for his guqin, an ancient seven-stringed plucked instrument, and played his famous song, Guanglingsan. When finished, he said: “A friend pestered me to learn this song and I insisted on not teaching him. Now the song will be lost forever.”


    An illustration of Pan An. Image: mafengwo.cn

    Pan An (247-300)

    He was also known as Pan Yue, a famous littérateur in the Jin dynasty. His looks were recorded in history books, which said he had a beautiful face and great posture. He was said to be so attractive that the public coined a phrase that’s still in use today to describe pretty men, “Looking like Pan An”. Pan has quite a fan base too.

    According to A New Account of the Tales of the World, a collection of essays about prominent families and figures at that time, every time Pan came out of the house, he was chased by his fanatic fans, most of whom were young women. They even threw flowers and fruit into his cart to show admiration, and Pan came home with a harvest every time.

    Pan was also known for his literary talent and loyalty to his wife. After his wife died, he wrote three poems commemorating her, a rare act in China’s feudal patriarchal society.


    Wei Jie. Image: mafengwo.cn

    Wei Jie (286-312)

    The official and metaphysicist of the Jin dynasty was recognised to be pretty as early as age five, when his grandfather said he was sorry he wouldn’t be able to see Wei as a grown-up. When he rode a goat cart to the markets as a teenager, people said they thought they had seen a statue made of jade. His uncle Wang Ji, a general, said he felt ugly compared to Wei. He told others when he travelled with Wei, he felt like he was being accompanied by a shiny pearl.

    Wei was not only celebrated for his good looks, but for his deep thoughts. He suffered from poor health, so his mother forbade him from talking too much. But sometimes during gatherings, families and friends would ask him to discuss his views on metaphysics.

    Later in life, Wei sought a job in what is now eastern China’s provincial capital Nanjing. When he reached the city, crowds who had heard of his reputation flooded the streets to see him. Wei, who was already weary from travelling, developed an illness and died at 27. Many say he was killed by the onlookers’ gaze, and an idiom was created: “killing Wei Jie with a stare”. People wrote poems about it, even some 400 years later during the Tang dynasty, saying: “The women in the eastern parts were so ignorant, they did not even realise they had killed the jade man with their stares.”


    Prince Lanling. Image: mafengwo.cn

    Prince Lanling (541-573)

    The warrior prince, whose real name was Gao Changgong, was the fourth son of Emperor Wenxiang in the North Qi Kingdom of the southern and northern dynasties. He was granted a fiefdom in Lanling, which is now part of eastern China’s Shandong province and became known as Prince Lanling.

    Books have described him as “gentle in appearance but strong in heart”, “with strong military might and a beautiful face” and “as white and beautiful as women”. Legend even has it that because the prince looked so effeminate, he couldn’t scare off his enemies, so he wore an ugly mask into battle.

    His reputation and battlefield glory also led to his end. His cousin, who later became the emperor, told him after a magnificent victory: “It’s too dangerous for you to get close to the enemy. If you lose, you won’t even have time to regret it.” Without realising it was a trap, the prince replied, “It’s all for the family.” The emperor then suspected the prince wanted to stage a coup.

    Noticing the emperor’s intentions, the prince started staying away from wars and politics. But he still could not escape. In 573, his cousin sent a messenger to him bearing a bottle of poisonous wine. He was forced to drink it and died in his 30s.
    Gene Ching
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    Or 'luxury pig men'...

    The real power behind China’s new trend of ‘sissy men’ ... is the empowered modern woman
    The ‘luxury pig men’ are challenging traditional gender stereotypes, and some commentators believe greater empowerment for women is helping them to do so
    PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 19 September, 2018, 8:01am
    UPDATED : Wednesday, 19 September, 2018, 10:58am
    Laurie Chen
    https://twitter.com/lauriechenwords
    laurie.chen@scmp.com



    In recent weeks, a new buzzword has emerged on the Chinese internet to describe a new breed of make-up loving young men: “luxury pig men”.

    These skincare-savvy jingzhunan, as they are known in Chinese, have gathered widespread attention for their intricate and time-consuming beauty regimes in a stark contrast to the traditional macho ideal.

    But the trend may be driven not just by fashion but by greater female empowerment and the increased attention to what women want.

    The younger generation of Chinese male heartthrobs, the “little fresh meat” whose appearance is much more like that of their counterparts in Japan and South Korea than previous generations of Chinese stars, are at the forefront of the phenomenon.

    But young, affluent millennials are increasingly copying their look, characterised by dewy, porcelain skin and delicate, elfin features.

    The trend has, perhaps predictably, upset some traditionalists – a recent appearance by a boy band on a national back-to-school television show saw them denounced as “sissies” by the state news agency Xinhua.

    That triggered a backlash in other sections of state media as commentators and women’s groups weighed in to support the right to adopt different forms of masculinity.

    A similar debate was triggered by the first “luxury pig man” – a 25-year-old from the eastern city of Hangzhou who spends up to 30,000 yuan (US$4,380) a year on his beauty regime.

    Although local media criticised Xu Tao’s “excessive” grooming routine – he spent around 30 minutes each day doing his make-up – this soon triggered a heated debate as the story went viral on social media.


    Actor Hu Ge represents the older masculine ideal for Chinese celebrities. Photo: EDKO

    “They embody a new trend of male beauty that appeals more and more to female millennials,” said Matthieu Rochette-Schneider, China general manager of French brand consultancy Centdegres. “It is becoming the new beauty standard for Chinese men.”

    Professor Geng Song, who researches Chinese masculinity at the University of Hong Kong, agreed.

    As women have gradually improved their social and economic standing, “their tastes and desires in terms of masculinity have become increasingly important”, he said.

    Programmes starring “little fresh meat” – with their huge female fan base – are more likely to get commissioned by TV stations, according to Song, especially since Chinese television drama audiences are dominated by women.

    “I think this shows that women’s purchasing power speaks loud as to desirable masculinity today,” he said.

    As a knock-on effect, men are feeling more pressure to take care over their appearance and use it as a form of social capital – as women have traditionally done for centuries.

    Advertisers are cottoning on to the trend with singers such as Wang Junkai and Lu Han fronting multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns for Western beauty giants such as Chanel and L’Occitane.

    “It’s not that all women in China particularly like this type of young, handsome, effeminate man – it’s that men have begun to realise that appearance could be important for them in terms of career success,” Song said.

    In this way, China is slowly beginning to mirror South Korea in its oemo jisang juui – or “looks are supreme” – culture of workplace advancement.


    Celebrities such as the TF Boys offer a very different form of masculinity compared with earlier Chinese stars. Photo: Handout

    Besides celebrities, many young men in China are first coming into contact with make-up through a growing number of male beauty bloggers or their friends and girlfriends.

    Video producer Zhang Dayu, 28, was first introduced to make-up and skincare four years ago through his beauty-conscious girlfriend Christine while they were living in Beijing.

    “At the time, he didn’t pay much attention to his appearance, and never got into the habit of skincare,” Christine said. “His skin was coarse, his pores were obvious and his eyebrows were growing wild.”

    Before long, she recommended him a skincare set and regularly urged him to get his hair cut and eyebrows groomed, hoping to introduce these grooming rituals into his lifestyle. “After all, this is a looks-focused society,” she added.

    “Back then, I had very little idea of cosmetics and she complained that my skin was too oily,” Zhang agreed. “I do it now mostly because it makes me feel better.”

    He uses toner, moisturiser, aftershave lotion and cleanser occasionally.

    While Christine asserts that “feminised” men can be “very beautiful”, for her, true attractiveness does not rest on looks alone.

    “There’s nothing wrong with using make-up to improve one’s appearance, like some of my male friends,” she said. “But for a man to be truly handsome, one must see his true colours.”
    continued next post
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    Continued from previous post


    Zhang Dayu wears a face mask. Photo: Handout

    One 29-year-old Beijinger nicknamed Xiaoyu said he had started using make-up two years ago because he was suffering from bad acne. Thanks to product recommendations from his male friends, the Beijinger quickly fell down a make-up rabbit hole and now spends 800 to 1,000 yuan (US$117-US$146) a month on cosmetics and skincare.

    “Society’s increasing acceptance of men wearing make-up is a definite trend,” he said. “After putting on make-up I feel more confident.”

    Xiaoyu normally spends an hour per day on his make-up and skincare routine, and uses a variety of products including BB creams (also known as beauty balms), foundation, face masks, sera and cleansing oils.

    In recent years, male cosmetics and skincare have come to represent a small but fast-growing segment of China’s lucrative beauty industry, worth 20.13 billion yuan in total as of May 2018, according to data from Statista.

    Research from Euromonitor predicts that annual growth rate for male cosmetics sales in China will hit 13.5 per cent by 2019 – well ahead of 5.8 per cent for male beauty products worldwide.

    A similar recent study by online retailers Vipshop.com and JD.com found that sales of male beauty products on these platforms have doubled year on year since 2015. Face masks, BB creams, lipsticks and brow products were especially popular.


    Lu Han features on an advertising hoarding in Beijing. Photo: AP

    Asia’s appetite for male cosmetics is not only fuelled by viral beauty bloggers and K-pop aesthetic ideals, but also the beauty industry’s keen desire to capitalise on this relatively new audience.

    “As there is an increase in male beauty vloggers and men who wear make-up, cultural ideals of who can and how to wear make-up will definitely change,” said Babette Radclyffe-Thomas, a PhD researcher in Asian fashion trends at the London College of Fashion.

    “Skincare trends also hold different cultural significance in Asia compared to other regions. Notions of skincare and grooming ideals in this region are interlinked with ideas surrounding cleanliness rather than gender or sexuality.”

    But it may still be a long while before wearing full facial make-up will become the norm for Chinese men across all ages, social classes and regions.

    “Whether among LGBT or straight people, it is a common perception that men who wear make-up are ‘sissies’ or ‘will scare women’,” said Duan Shuai, media director of the Beijing LGBT Centre.

    As a result, many ordinary men who use make-up and skincare prefer a more “natural” look in contrast to male beauty bloggers, whose audiences are largely made up of women and gay men.


    Beauty bloggers are helping to promote the trend. Photo: AFP

    “These practices are adjusted according to … societal context so that their facial appearance would neither undermine their sense of masculinity nor incur any perceived femininity,” said Simon Chan, a gender studies doctoral student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

    As for Zhang, using these products “definitely” makes him feel more attractive to women, but he prefers not to go overboard.

    “I think the magical part of make-up is that you do it to a degree where people don’t notice, but they’re like ‘looking good today!’,” he said.

    Too many men: China and India battle with the consequences of gender imbalance

    While “luxury pig men” may be the extreme end of the phenomenon, ordinary men taking more care over their appearance have increasingly been welcomed in Chinese society.

    For instance, the top-rated online comments in response to the “luxury pig men” controversy were overwhelmingly supportive.

    “Can the entitled straight men in the comments just blow up on the spot?” wrote one user on Weibo, China’s Twitter. “I can just imagine what this kind of person looks like in real life …”
    Luxury pig men - just in time for next year's Year of the Pig.
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  4. #4
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    When I lived in Taiwan, there were a lot of young males in the cities that acted effeminate. I'm talking about exaggerated effeminate mannerisms. I asked a Taiwanese friend (who was definitely not like that) why that is, and he told me that many Chinese people believed that acting 'manly' meant that a man was coarse and unrefined, so many boys developed more girlish mannerisms than the girls themselves. He didn't like the trend, either. I'm certain it's the trend all over East Asia.

    IMO, this trend (that has now grown to worldwide notoriety through the popularity of the "boy bands" from South Korea in particular) has even worsened the already low image and further emasculation of males of East Asian descent in the western world. There really aren't enough (or any) manly images of Asian males to counterbalance the overwhelming flood of Asian male sissiness in pop culture.

    People who complain that Bruce Lee created such a bad Asian stereotype need to look at K-pop and other sources today and reconsider if the Bruce Lee stereotypical image was really that bad in comparison. At least BL presented a masculine image.

    *Edit to add:

    I've had a suspicion for some time now that Asian male sissiness (in Asia) is at the highest levels directed and encouraged by governments to keep the general population more compliant, and less likely to question or rebel against authority.
    Last edited by Jimbo; 10-01-2018 at 10:41 AM.

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    This calls for a national day for girly men, effeminate lads, effete wankers, sissies and casualties of the gender identity politics wars. lol

    I mean, may as well, if cats can have a day, why not sissy men? At least sissy men contribute to the economy. But cats? Barely!
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    "Sissies" or "straight-man cancer"?

    A Fiery Debate Over 'Sissies' Vs. Macho Men In China's Social Media
    September 30, 20187:00 AM ET
    YUHAN XU


    YouTube

    What's the greater threat to Chinese society: "Sissies" or "straight-man cancer"?

    Chinese social media has seen heated debate this month over what masculinity is supposed to look like.

    It all started with the state-owned Chinese Central Television's annual back-to-school special, which aired on Sept. 1. The show prominently featured a popular boy band called New F4.

    Watching the program, "The First Class of School," is mandatory for more than 100 million Chinese primary and middle school students as well as their parents. Children are expected to share thoughts or write essays about it. This year's themes are "dream, endeavor, exploration and future."

    "I was asked to write down my thoughts after, but I didn't expect New F4 would be in it!" commented one student on Chinese social media. Another said "Wang Hedi [a member of the band] is so cute!"

    While some Chinese kids were thrilled to see their favorite group, not all parents were impressed.

    "Four sissies opened the program with singing and dancing. Can't you find masculine boys? If the youth are effeminate, the country will be weak. The director of the program should be fired," wrote an angry parent on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.

    Another commented, "I can't believe the ministries of education and propaganda are promoting sissy culture .... They let a bunch of sissies wearing lipstick, ear studs, dyed hair, groomed brows and bracelets represent Chinese youths!"

    An op-ed from Xinhua, China's state-run media outlet, bashed "fresh little meat" — internet slang for young, feminine-looking male celebrities who have porcelain skin and tiny waists.

    "The kind of pop culture a society embraces, rejects or promote relates to the country's future. In order to cultivate new talent who will be bearing the responsibility of rejuvenating the nation, we need to boycott harmful culture and be nurtured in good culture," the op-ed's author wrote.

    Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily was on the other side of the discussion, calling for respect of diverse aesthetic standards and an appreciation of inner beauty.

    Influenced by Japanese and Korean pop culture, China has developed a growing appetite for "fresh little meat"-type stars. Lu Han, a former member of Korean boyband EXO, has 52 million fans on Weibo and is seen in numerous commercials and on billboards in China. When Wang Junkai of TFBoys posted a note to fans on his 15th birthday in 2014, it was shared more than 355 million times, setting a Guinness record for most-shared Weibo post.

    Beautiful, gentle men have existed throughout Chinese history, too. Traditional Confucian values appreciate intellectuals with polished looks, refined manners and pure morals.

    After the Cultural Revolution, actor Tang Guoqiang won hearts with his fair skin, pretty face and sweet nature in Chinese movies, earning the nickname "Cream Boy." In the 1990s, other "cream boys" in film and music continued this trend. Singer Mao Ning's love songs were sung over and over in karaoke booths. The early 2000s saw the term "flower men," exemplified by Taiwanese boy band Flower Four.

    So why are some crying out for masculinity now?

    Despite a patriarchal society in which men outnumber women, Chinese women's self-awareness and status is improving. Chinese women's workforce participation rate is 63.4 percent, higher than any other country in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a 2017 Deloitte report. Some 62 percent of women value career and family equally, and most Chinese mothers have jobs, the Deloitte report said.

    The stereotypical "masculine" Chinese man believes a woman's place is in the home, producing offspring. These men don't value women with a college degree; they always pick up the check after a meal. Some want to marry virgins even though they're not virgins themselves.

    Such men are considered to have "straight man cancer," a Chinese expression to describe conservative, entitled male chauvinists.

    Some Weibo users attribute the viral debate to male insecurity and China's gender imbalance.

    "Why can't effeminate men be respected?" argued a Weibo user. "It shows aesthetic diversity, a sign of our progressing society .... Those who criticize 'sissies' are not open-minded!"

    "Those who think we're facing a masculinity crisis are living under the shadow of patriarchal mechanism. It only shows the country's gender inequality," commented another.

    Said another, "I'd rather date a sophisticated sissy rather than a sloppy man with 'straight-man cancer.'"
    These slangs are killing me. Too funny.
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    Fan Chengcheng

    Who is Fan Chengcheng? New face of Fenty Beauty in China and Fan Bingbing’s little brother
    Recently named the face of Rihanna’s beauty line in Greater China, Fan Chengcheng has earned a string of luxury brand endorsements in the past year
    One of a group of emerging stars dubbed ‘little fresh meat’, the singer and model is among the most in-demand young celebrities in East Asia
    Lauren James
    Published: 5:00pm, 15 Sep, 2019


    Fan Chengcheng in a promotional shot for French jewellery brand Fred. The teenager has picked up a number of brand endorsements and accolades in the past 12 months.

    Fan Chengcheng, the younger brother of Chinese megastar Fan Bingbing, has described himself as “very happy” to have been named the face of Fenty Beauty in Greater China.
    His affiliation with the company was only announced last week, but the 19-year-old singer and model – a member of pop groups Nex7 and Nine Percent (in which he is known as “Adam”) – has already featured in a video campaign for the brand, founded by pop star Rihanna in 2017.
    A clip released by Fenty Beauty shows Fan waking up, showering, hopping into a car and heading to perform at a nightclub to an audience of women, who are pictured getting ready for the gig with Fenty products. In another video, this time posted on social media app Tik Tok, he demonstrates the brand’s highlighter by flicking it at the camera.
    Fan is following in the footsteps of Naomi Wang Ju – dubbed “China’s Beyoncé” – who was announced as the brand’s first spokesman for China earlier this summer.

    𝚔𝚊𝚖𝚒
    @gonrises
    fine i understood m putting my fenty foundation tomorrow u got me fan chengcheng

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    The cruelty-free brand has earned praise for its range of foundation shades and refusal to test on animals; in China it sells products through online retailer Tmall, which ships items from outside the country to circumvent the law that requires all cosmetics sold there to be tested on animals. (Tmall is a unit of Alibaba, which owns the South China Morning Post.)

    Fenty is expanding to several Asian markets, including South Korea, where the brand has hinted at a collaboration with K-pop singer Kai.


    Fan Chengcheng, the younger brother of actress Fan Bingbing, has enjoyed a rapid rise in China since his appearance on a TV talent show in 2018. Photo: Weibo

    “The increasing demand for make-up among young Chinese consumers, a high sensitivity towards social media and a preference for online shopping has pushed Fenty Beauty into the Chinese market,” a spokesman for Fenty Beauty’s Tmall shop told Chinese newspaper Global Times last week.
    Fan, a talented singer and rapper, is showbiz-savvy. In 2018 he was catapulted to fame at the age of 17 after becoming one of the final nine contestants on the hit Chinese television talent show Idol Producer. In November, he wrote the Nine Percent song I’m Here, which sold more than a million copies in its first five minutes of release.
    From then on, he began collecting a string of accolades, which so far have included being honoured as the “most influential fashion male celebrity of the year” at the Sohu Fashion Awards in Beijing.


    Fan Chengcheng models a Versace look.

    The exposure won him attention from luxury fashion brands Louis Vuitton and Loewe, and he soon found himself tagged by Chinese internet users “little fresh meat” – a term used to describe young, attractive, up-and-coming male celebrities.
    In a market where celebrity endorsement has a big influence on retail sales, Fan and other “little fresh meat” stars, including rapper Kris Wu, found themselves bombarded by brands looking to tap their large social media followings and ability to reach young, mostly female consumers.
    Adding to an already impressive roster of brand signings, Fan was also revealed earlier this year as the first China spokesman for French jewellery retailer Fred, which praised his “talent as a composer” and “enthusiasm towards life”.
    .
    Fan Chengcheng models jewellery by Fred. The French brand announced him as its first China brand spokesman this year.

    As the beauty industry shifts towards inclusivity and embraces the gender spectrum in its marketing, Fenty Beauty is one of several brands to actively promote its products to a male audience, posting tutorials aimed at men and selling a “Gentlemen’s Fenty face” kit, which includes foundation and oil-blotting tools.
    Although “little fresh meat” are noted for their feminine features and personalities, the brand does not appear to have lined up Fan to model its products on his own skin. In a promotional image, he is shown brandishing a tube of crimson lipstick, but does not wear any.
    Fans of the singer have flooded Weibo, China’s Twitter, with messages applauding the brand for its newest hire and urging others to buy Fenty Beauty products. “Thank you very much for choosing Fan Chengcheng as the brand spokesperson! A great honour indeed!” one fan wrote. Another posted: “I don’t know why, but I suddenly need to buy buy buy!”


    Fan Chengcheng is promoting Fenty Beauty lipstick, but isn’t shown using it himself. Photo: courtesy of Weibo

    Fan is 19 years younger than his sister, and his family have long fought off rumours that he is Fan Bingbing’s son, not her brother. The actress has addressed the gossip in interviews, claiming she was the one to convince her mother to keep the child and that they had to pay a fine due to China’s one-child policy.
    Fan Chengcheng’s nascent career seems not to have been affected by his house arrest in 2018, along with his sister, in connection with her tax evasion, a scandal that saw several luxury brands terminate their contracts with her. He is quickly emerging as one of the most in-demand young faces in East Asia.
    Rihanna, through her own newly created Weibo page, heralded the arrival of her brand’s newest spokesman, saying: “Welcome to the Fenty Beauty Global Family!!”
    THREADS
    Where in the world is Fan Bingbing?
    Sissy Men
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    And women like this?
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    Quote Originally Posted by David Jamieson View Post
    And women like this?
    A year to two ago, as I was skimming channels one day, I came across the Ellen Degeneres show, and the main featured guests was some extremely popular Korean K-pop boy band, and all the young women in the audience were standing up and screaming for them, almost like Beatlemania. They were rapping and doing the usual K-pop thing of synchronized dancing. But afterwards, during their interview, it was clear they were ALL wearing makeup and extremely effeminate. Yet the girls in the audience were going wild for them.

    I get annoyed at the current popular phrase “the new normal,” but I guess that nowadays, lots of young women and girls are attracted to the sissy boy image. Or at least the Asian sissy boy image. Personally, I hate it. The movement to sissify Asian males has been a rousing success. What people do in their own lives is nobody’s business. But this pop culture movement is extremely insidious, because there is little to nothing to counterbalance it. I don’t know, and don’t care, if these K-pop and other Asian male boy bands and “cream boy” celebrities are really the way they present themselves, or if they’re only living up to an image. But this whole thing is an (IMO, purposeful) emasculation of East Asian males. East Asian males in general had already been presented and seen in the West as less manly than others. Now it’s actively being promoted in many Asian countries as the ideal image of a “man.” At least when it occurs within other racial/ethnic groups, there are always strong images to counterbalance it.

    I probably already mentioned in an earlier post that it’s obvious that some Asian governments are doing this to make people, especially men, easier to control.
    Last edited by Jimbo; 09-17-2019 at 08:23 AM.

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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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  11. #11
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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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