As a popular subculture among the Z generation, Furry Fandom has recently become a topic of mainstream media coverage. Previous research on Furry Fandom suggests that furry fans suffer from strong social stigma often perpetuated by negative or inaccurate media portrayals as sexual deviant, socially awkward, or bestiality fetish, and sometimes they stigmatize themselves. Nevertheless, in China, less social stigma has been observed about Furry Fandom. Paradoxically, furry fans in China even exhibit self-deprecation inside and outside the communities. Taking the Furry self-organization at X University in Beijing, China, as an example, this paper used the Process Tracing Case Study Method and conducted in-depth online interviews with the administrator of the self-organization to investigate the factors causing this phenomenon. As a comparative social study, firstly, the study introduces a general overview of the Furry Fandom as a new subculture in China and the differences between the portrayal of western and Chinese mainstream media sources. Secondly, the study reviews prior studies specifically on the stigmatization of the Furry Fandom, and the study introduces the methodology. Thirdly, self-organization is introduced and analyzed as an empirical case study of the existence and development of Furries in China. Finally, the limitation of this research and suggestions for the future study are given in the conclusion. This study fills a research gap regarding Furry Fandom in China.
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