Feminist fan engagement and collective agency

A case study of Barbie in China

Bibliographic Data

ID7476426
AuthorsXinyao Yuan (0009-0007-5351-1866, Tsinghua University), Ruoyu Yang (0009-0002-8473-9672, City University of Hong Kong), Zheng Zhang (0000-0002-0389-1844, Tsinghua University, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume29
Issue2
Pages291-310
Publication date2025-07-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Cultural Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1367-8779 • E-ISSN: 1460-356X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/13678779251358881
OpenAlexW4412549807
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited35

The release of Barbie in China sparked a significant wave of feminist discourse, giving rise to a new community of feminist Barbie fans. To understand how these Chinese fans use Barbie—a symbol of Western culture—as a tool for feminist expression, this study examines their motivations, strategies, and the cultural tensions they navigate. Based on semi-structured interviews with 23 fans, the research reveals how they construct a collective identity through participatory practices, transforming Barbie into a symbol of empowerment that reflects Chinese sociocultural realities. By negotiating global feminist narratives within local contexts, these fans balance advocacy with the challenges of censorship and societal expectations. The findings underscore the role of participatory culture in fostering collective agency and adapting global ideas to local contexts, contributing to broader debates on the global-local dynamic in cultural production and social change

Advertising · Aesthetics · Agency (philosophy · Art · Business · China · Media studies · Political science · Social science · Sociology · Asian Culture and Media Studies · Gender Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Media, Gender, and Advertising

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