Caring masculinity as caring capital in the field of marriage: Chinese rural migrant men’s engagement with digital dating

Liu, Tingting; Lin, Zhongxuan

doi:10.1080/1369118x.2021.2020869

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…The Uses and Gratifications Theory highlights that individual motivations and behaviors are central to media use, positing that the realization and extent of need satisfaction, alongside subsequent effects, determine the outcomes of media usage ( Ruggiero, 2000 ). Unlike typical motivations for using dating apps, such as seeking sexual partners ( Lee, 2019 ) or marriage partners ( Liu and Lin, 2023 ), Chinese divorced young adults often do not prioritize dating, and their interest in remarriage varies individually. Our research indicates that the interaction purposes of Chinese divorced young adults are multifaceted; thus, we have identified several objectives for their interactions ( Figure 1 ): forming same-sex friendships, opposite-sex friendships, and seeking opposite-sex marriage.…”

Section: Conclusion and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disembedding and re-embedding: the online interaction mechanisms of divorced youth in China

Wang,

Guo

2024

Front. Psychol.

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IntroductionIn recent years, China’s divorce rates have remained high, especially in metropolitan areas such as Beijing and Shanghai, where rates reach up to 40%. Additionally, there has been a notable shift towards younger demographics in divorce cases. In a society that highly values marital harmony, divorce is often seen as a cultural transgression. Anthony Giddens’ theory of disembedding and re-embedding provides a useful framework for understanding these changes. This study addresses a gap in literature by focusing on the online social interactions of divorced Chinese youth, exploring their use of dating apps for emotional support and social reconnections.MethodsThis qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with 19 divorced young adults in China who engaged with dating apps such as Momo, Tantan, and Soul. Participants were recruited via Douban and Xiaohongshu. The interviews, conducted through WeChat voice calls and Tencent Meetings, lasted 45-70 minutes each. Data was analyzed using Nvivo12 to understand the disembedding and re-embedding processes in their online interactions, exploring themes such as motivations, self-presentation, and the transition from online to offline engagements.Results and discussionThe findings reveal that these individuals face societal challenges, biases, and the residual effects of past marriages, leading them to seek refuge in online environments to avoid stigmatization. In digital spaces, they cautiously engage, revealing a lack of confidence through selective self-disclosure. Their goals range from forming same-sex and opposite-sex friendships to seeking new romantic relationships, indicating a nuanced approach to remarriage and challenging stereotypes of dating app users. Re-engaging online, they discover social support and a sense of community, which aids in regaining confidence post-divorce, underscoring the complex interplay between societal influences and individual adaptation strategies in the digital age. The study highlights the unique challenges faced by this demographic, including maintaining anonymity and dealing with societal prejudices. Future research should consider a broader age range and gender differences to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the online behaviors and experiences of divorced individuals.

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Section: Conclusion and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disembedding and re-embedding: the online interaction mechanisms of divorced youth in China

Wang,

Guo

2024

Front. Psychol.

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“…The current research contributes a meaningful extension to China’s masculinity studies by showcasing the vitality of the wen-wu paradigm in the post-reform era. Amid globalisation being internalised in China, many studies have noted the compatibility between desirable Chinese masculinities and the Western hegemonic model (Liu, 2019; Liu and Lin, 2021). Yet, echoing Louie’s (2012) scholarship, our research findings reveal that the wen - wu paradigm still offers an anchoring concept to decode desirable Chinese masculinities of the present day when references to wen remain ubiquitous in their construct.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The post-reform diversification of gender representations mirrors changing global consumer trends (Chong, 2013; Liu and Lin, 2021). Amongst various representations, metrosexual men, who are characterised by their dedication to appearance management, embody a softened type of masculinity that is highly appreciated (Song and Hird, 2014).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

A wen-wu Approach to Male Teenage Chinese Sports Fans’ Heteronormative Interpretation of Masculinity

Peng¹,

Chen²,

Chen³

2023

Feminist Review

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This article analyses how performatively heteronormative, male teenage Chinese fans consume sports games through the prism of masculinity, using secondary school students’ engagement with the NBA (National Basketball Association) as a case study. Drawing on focus groups of twenty-three participants, we discover that male teenage sports fans constantly evoke elite NBA athletes as male ideals to define a desirable, heteronormative wen-wu masculinity specific to the post-reform era. In this process, they often engage in a double-standard practice, manifesting as their appropriation of the CP (coupling) rhetoric to ‘ship’ athletes and their problematisation of heterosexual women and LGBTQ fans’ similar usage of it. This double-standard practice constitutes an attempt to monopolise the interpretation of masculinity both within and outside of the sporting context. It sheds light on the heteronormative male cohort’s rejection of alternative masculinities, underscoring how aspects of gender politics unfolding in wider society are reflected in China’s teenage sports fandom.

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“…First, while previous researchers argue that management of the smartphone use by children is often a women's task (Ito, 2005;Lim and Soon, 2010), this study reveals that with the changing concept of masculinity over time, men are playing a prominent role in the supervision of children's smartphone use. Second, the theoretical framework of caring capital was originally developed in the context of dating and marriage (Liu & Lin, 2021). I expand the theoretical framework of caring capital into the context of parenting -especially in regard to education -in which I argue the caring capital can be a valuable asset for men to build their children's competitiveness in education even though they can only provide limited economic support for their children.…”

Section: Influences Of Technology On Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…What remains to be seen is how, or if, this transformation affects the underlying culture and the values that have guided Mosuo society for centuries.Previous research has identified other forms of capital that are useful when exploring parent communication. For example, caring capital is argued to be a form of cultural capital byLiu & Lin (2021). In their study of Chinese rural migrant worker's online dating practices,Liu & Lin (2021) discovered that caring practices carried out through mobile phones can compensate for economic disadvantages faced by Chinese working-class males.…”

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confidence: 99%

Mobile parenting practice among the matrilineal Mosuo men in Southwest China

Chen¹

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Andrew Prahl. I could not have completed this thesis without your patient guidance and encouragement. Thank you for supporting me during the data collection phase and dedicating your time to help me polish the thesis. I also owe special thanks to my previous supervisors, Dr. Andrew Duffy and Dr. Richard Ling, who were no longer in Singapore by the time I completed my thesis. Thank you for providing detailed feedback on my draft before the Qualifying Exam and sending me scholarly articles that were useful for my research. Secondly, I am forever indebted to my dear friends and parents. Mom and dad, thank you for supporting me to study abroad and encouraging me to move forward despite all the difficulties. I love you. Linda and Li Wei, thank you for organizing a special party for my 25th birthday and dragging me out of the house to enjoy good food, sunshine, and nature when I felt overwhelmed by the research and writing. Thirdly, I want to say thank you to my research participants who agreed to participate in this study despite the physical distances between us. Thank you for sharing your valuable insights on mobile parenting.

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Caring masculinity as caring capital in the field of marriage: Chinese rural migrant men’s engagement with digital dating

Cited by 9 publications

References 52 publications

Disembedding and re-embedding: the online interaction mechanisms of divorced youth in China

Disembedding and re-embedding: the online interaction mechanisms of divorced youth in China

A wen-wu Approach to Male Teenage Chinese Sports Fans’ Heteronormative Interpretation of Masculinity

Mobile parenting practice among the matrilineal Mosuo men in Southwest China

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