Niang pao
Niang pao (Chinese: 娘炮) is a derogatory Chinese term for men perceived to be effeminate.
Overview
[edit]Niang pao literally translates to "girlie guns / girlie cannons" but is more commonly translated as "sissy".[1] It is generally used as an insult for effeminate men.[2] Because of this it is considered[by whom?] to be a gender-based slur.[3]
History
[edit]The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) used the term in a 2018 Xinhua item intended to show its preference for the portrayal of virile Chinese men on the Internet.[4]
In 2018, the official WeChat account of People’s Daily published a commentary denouncing “such derogatory phrases including ‘niangpao,’” and called for respect and tolerance of diversified aesthetics.[5]
In 2019, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences endorsed the theory that the United States Central Intelligence Agency initiated the phenomenon with a deliberate "campaign to 'brainwash' Asian men" starting in 1962 in Japan with the Johnny & Associates talent agency.[6]
The National Radio and Television Administration used the term in a 2021 edict condemning the television portrayal of effeminate men, as part of CCP general secretary Xi Jinping's broader crackdown on gender differences and non-conforming social identities.[7] The Guardian noted Chinese television programs Youth With You and Produce 101 as examples that were targeted.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "China bans men it sees as not masculine enough from TV". Associated Press. 2021-09-02. Archived from the original on 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
- ^ Elliott, Josh K. "China bans 'sissy' and 'effeminate' men under new macho media rules". globalnews.ca. Global News. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Cheng, Joyce; Butler, Jordyn; Jackson, Will (29 October 2021). "Beijing's crackdown on 'sissy' men could lead to a rise in gender-based violence, experts warn". ABC News. Australia Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Lauren Teixeira (November 12, 2018), "China's Pop Idols Are Too Soft for the Party", Foreign Policy, archived from the original on September 22, 2023, retrieved September 2, 2021
- ^ Bloomberg News (September 20, 2021). "China Targets 'Effeminate' Men in Xi's Mounting Push for Conformity". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
- ^ Amy Hawkins (October 23, 2019). "CIA turned our celebrities into 'sissy pants', says Chinese Academy of Social Sciences". The Times of London. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ "China bans men it deems not masculine enough from TV in new crackdown". Associated Press. September 2, 2021. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via WDAM-TV.
- ^ Vincent Ni (September 2, 2021). "China bans reality talent shows to curb behaviours of 'idol' fandoms – Broadcasters ordered not to promote 'sissy' men in attempt to reshape country's entertainment industry". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
Further reading
[edit]- Yuhan Xu (September 30, 2018). "A Fiery Debate Over 'Sissies' Vs. Macho Men In China's Social Media". National Public Radio.
- Jack Kilbride; Bang Xiao (September 14, 2018). "China's 'sissy pants phenomenon': Beijing fears negative impact of 'sickly culture' on teenagers". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.