Chinese Women Use “Korean Women” to Discuss Local Gender Issues

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Chinese Women Use "Korean Women" to Discuss Local Gender Issues

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On Chinese social media platforms, the term “Hannü” (韩女), meaning “Korean women,” has become a prevalent, albeit indirect, way for Chinese women to discuss and express their frustrations about gender issues within China. A key phrase associated with this trend is, “My womb cannot give birth to the knife that will one day stab me.” This sentiment, often presented as originating from “Korean women,” serves as a coded message for Chinese women to articulate their desire to avoid traditional expectations of marriage and childbirth, which they perceive as potentially leading to personal detriment in a patriarchal society.

The use of “Hannü” as a stand-in allows for critical discussions about gender inequality that might otherwise face censorship or strong backlash. Social media in China has become a vital space for women to address gender issues, despite facing online threats, antagonism, and censorship. Over the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in women’s voices on platforms like Weibo, which serve as primary venues for online activism. These discussions often intensify around public safety incidents involving women, such as the 2022 Tangshan restaurant attack, which sparked widespread debate about gender-based violence and stereotypes.

The phrase itself alludes to traditional Chinese superstitions and cultural norms surrounding pregnancy and childbirth, where sharp objects like knives or scissors are often associated with negative outcomes for the baby or the mother’s well-being. Historically, Chinese culture has many rituals and taboos related to childbirth, with beliefs that certain actions or objects can impact the unborn child. By metaphorically linking childbirth to a “knife,” Chinese women are expressing a deeper anxiety about the societal roles and potential sacrifices expected of them, particularly in the context of producing male heirs who, in some traditional views, could perpetuate patriarchal structures. This coded language enables a “softer” form of feminist engagement, challenging deeply ingrained patriarchal values and contributing to the development of feminist discourse under China’s online restrictions.

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