Her story: China's answer to Barbie enthusiastic - men are outraged

Her story: China's answer to Barbie enthusiastic - men are outraged

In Hong Kong, the new Chinese film "Her Story" has already caused a stir. A 9-year-old girl contradicts the shame around menstruation at the dinner and explains the adult: "More than half of the world's population bleed." Two men fight for the heart of a woman by bragging about how many books they read about the Japanese feminist icon Chizuko Ueno. A neighbor confronts a stalker who pursues a young woman and sells him. These scenes from China's latest box office hit have caused a sensation on social media and are celebrated by many women as China's answer to "Barbie".

a hit on social media

The comments on Douban, China's biggest film criticism, testify to this success. The film has received an assessment of 9.1 out of 10 and is praised for its blunt celebration of the "awakening" femininity and its brave social comment on modern China - all with a pinch of humorous comedy. Since its publication on November 22, "Her Story" has recorded more than $ 680 million Yuan ($ 93 million) and has been to China's strongest film for 17 consecutive days.

criticism and controversy

Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception, the ingenious criticism of sexual forms has upset some men on Chinese social media. These criticize the film and accuse him of provoking "gender antagonism" - a term that the state media often use to censor feminist discourses that are perceived as "over the strands". In the past ten years, the prevailing communist party of China, whose leadership is exclusively male, has strongly suppressed feminist activism.

positive voices from the audience

"Her Story" was written and staged by Shao Yihui and tells the stories and relationships of three women in Shanghai: an independent single mother, her ingenious daughter and her new neighbor, a young singer and self -proclaimed "sober romantic goals". He Zeyu, a 29-year-old editor from Beijing, has already seen the film three times and feels addressed by history. "I wanted to share the two hours with my friends and parents to experience this feeling that I was seen and hugged."

criticism from a male perspective

Despite the jubilation among women, there are many male critics. Xu, a spectator, watched a couple who argued about the film when leaving the cinema. The man described the narrative structure of the film as "bad", which the woman vigorously rejected. Similar reports about men who reacted frustrated during the performance, spread on social media, similar to the conservative counter reaction to the performances of "Barbie" in the USA.

The narrow burr of feminism discussion

Not all men are against the film. Chen Xiaohe, a 29-year-old viewer who appreciates the representation of "lively and well-developed" female characters, noticed that feminist cinema in China is still severely restricted. "The gender perception in our country has for a long gap. Many men instinctively reject feminist ideas, which makes it difficult for them to appreciate this film."

feminism in society

The reaction to feminist topics shows how feminism is still under pressure in China. The stand-up comedian Yang Li, known for her sharp jokes about men, is a common goal of online attacks. These tensions are also evident in the reaction to "Her Story" and illustrate the narrow ridge where feminist voices have to balance in Chinese society. Shao, the screenwriter and director of "Her Story", emphasized that "feminism not only frees women but also men" and hopes that a collaboration is possible with a deeper look at the causes.