gender

Beyond the Stigma: Chinese Single Mothers Redefining Family Success

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

Research shows children from single-mother households perform equally well as those from dual-parent families, debunking negative stereotypes.

The Paper

The Sanitary Pad Scandal Causing Uproar on Chinese Social Media

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

A string of sanitary pad brands have admitted their products are often smaller than advertised — sparking fury among Chinese women.

Ding Rui

The Female-Driven Comedy Being Hailed as China’s ‘Barbie’

“Her Story” has become a box office smash with its unabashed celebration of female empowerment.

In China, a New Paid Period Leave Policy Revives an Old Debate

A new initiative in Yunnan province, allowing women to take up to two days off with a doctor’s note, has reignited discussions about a decades-old policy few have even heard of.

Li Xin

Li Miaoran

U-Turn: Female Food Couriers Find Strength in Stereotypes

In a new book on China’s platform economy, female delivery riders talk about overcoming the roadblocks they face in a male-dominated industry.

Sun Ping

The Women Living Alone — and Loving It — on Xiaohongshu

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

Vlogs about the single life are popular on the app, sometimes referred to as “China’s Instagram,” but are their stars as free as they seem?

Guo Jia

In China’s New Stand-up Comedy Shows, Women Have All the Best Lines

Stand-up comedy has returned to China’s TV screens after a yearlong absence, with a new generation of outspoken female performers at the fore.

Lin Liuhan

Women Take a Stand in China’s Youth Fishing Craze

As the popularity of angling surges in China, young women are defying conventions and taking their place next to men.

Fan Yiying

Dong Ziqing

In Chengdu, Women Learn to Rewire a Trade Built for Men

Designed exclusively for women, a new course offers classes ranging from home appliance cleaning to electrician training that covers both theory and hands-on techniques. The response has been overwhelming, with classes filling up fast.

He Qitong

Chinese Airline Stops Forcing Female Attendants to Wear High Heels

The decision by Hunan Airlines has sparked an outpouring of support on Chinese social media — and calls for more airlines to follow their lead.

Can Women Be ‘Xiansheng’?

The term, generally translated as “mister,” wasn’t always a gendered form of address.

Pan Ruotian

Bringing the Struggles of China’s Migrant Women to Life

“The Life of Mulan,” an immersive drama that finished a nationwide tour in June, sought to force audiences to think like a migrant, for better or for worse.

Qi Lixia

Stitching Masculinity: The Tailor’s Son Who Defied Gender Norms

As China’s societal norms evolve, Cantonese embroidery master Wang Xinyuan no longer feels the need to prove his masculinity and is eager to promote the traditional craft through social media.

Beijing Youth Daily

The ‘Pink’ Premium: Why Women in China Still Pay More for Less

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

For years, global campaigns have opposed the “pink tax,” where products marketed to women are priced higher than those for men. In China, the debate intensified recently when university students sued cosmetics giant L’Oréal for discriminatory pricing of facial cleansers.

Zhang Zhen

Chinese Detergent Brand in a Spin Over Sexist Ad Campaign

Washing powder maker Blue Moon ran a campaign calling for people to “Make laundry easier for mom” this Mother’s Day. Women responded they’d rather their partners took care of it.

Why Tech Alone Won’t Free Women From Their Chains

Tech companies promise their devices will “free up women’s hands” and reduce the burdens of managing a household. But all they’re doing is making women’s work harder to spot.

Song Meijie

Why a New Women’s Law Has China Debating Property Rights

Starting June 1, Fujian province will allow women to legally access their partners’ property details without lengthy court proceedings. Critics argue the law favors women, but officials assert it does not infringe on men's rights.

The Backbend: Why a Basic Dance Move Is Paralyzing Children in China

Commonly taught in dance studios, the backbend has been linked to a surge in severe spinal injuries among young girls across the country. This alarming trend has prompted widespread calls for better regulatory frameworks and more professional training methods.

The Chinese ‘Auntie’ Who Hit the Road — and Never Looked Back

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

Liu Jingwen

He Kai

Wu Huiyuan 

Link Between ‘Zhaodi’ Names and Clan Culture in China: New Study

In some parts of China, parents seeking a son name their daughters Zhaodi, a name that translates as “brother requested.”