Research Proposal: Digital Feminist Storytelling in Chinese Slash Fiction
In recent years, Chinese slash fiction—particularly Real Person Slash (RPS)—has become a popular and politically significant form of digital storytelling. Though slash fiction is often seen as a space for fantasy and escapism, many young Chinese women are using it to express feminist ideas in subtle and creative ways. Set against the backdrop of tightening censorship, evolving gender discourse, and a growing feminist consciousness, this research explores how slash fiction functions as a form of digital feminism in contemporary China. While existing scholarship has addressed fanfiction’s role in subverting gender norms, less attention has been given to how Chinese authors incorporate reflections of women’s real-life struggles into narratives centered on queer male relationships. Through thematic analysis and interviews with authors on RedNote, a major Chinese fanfiction platform, this study investigates how feminist messaging is embedded in these stories—and why this genre, despite its male-centric surface, has become a tool for feminist awareness. By examining this intersection of fandom, gender, and censorship, the project highlights a unique and underexplored mode of feminist expression in a politically constrained digital landscape.
Hello :) My name is Ella, a second-year student at the University of Toronto!
My research looks at how Chinese slash fiction is used by women to reflect real-life struggles and promote feminist awareness. I focus on why this genre—centered on queer male relationships—is chosen to express female experiences, and how censorship and cultural factors in China influence that decision. In the past, I have researched how coming-of-age narratives are portrayed in Western slash fiction.
Outside of academia, I love to snowboard (in the winter) and ride my electric unicycle (in the summer). My favourite pastime is trying new foods and drinks while (sometimes) discussing how certain aspects of fanfiction reflect social justice issues.
My (more normal) hobbies include reading—anything except mysteries—with a focus on Asian North American stories, listening to pop and classical music, and playing badminton. I will be studying English and East Asian Studies over the next three years!
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