
Cross-Gender Performances and Audience Engagement on Douyin
- 1 The Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study explores the cultural and commercial impacts of cross-gender performances on Douyin, one of China's leading short video platforms. These performances not only entertain but also challenge traditional gender norms, engaging predominantly young, urban female audiences. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research combines quantitative data from proprietary analytics tools with qualitative content analyses to delve into how such performances resonate with viewers and influence societal views on gender. Findings indicate that these narratives significantly cater to the emotional and cultural needs of the audience. It fosters a deep connection that transcends mere entertainment. Moreover, the huge number of followers of cross-gender performers in Douyin advances more paths toward commercial success. This is increasingly significant in entertainment today, as strategic marketing often combines with artistic performance. This study underscores the role of innovative digital platforms like Douyin in shaping modern social narratives and highlights their potential in driving both cultural discourse and commercial success in the digital age.
Keywords
cross-gender performance, digital media, gender diversity, audience engagement
[1]. Verot, O. (2023, September 8). Douyin Statistics and Trends Shaping China’s Social eCommerce Market - Marketing China. GMA. https://marketingtochina.com/douyin-statistics-and-trends/
[2]. Zhao, Z. (2021). Analysis on the “Douyin (Tiktok) Mania” Phenomenon Based on Recommendation Algorithms. E3S Web of Conferences, 235(03029), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202123503029
[3]. Wang Tianle. Gender Performance, Cultural Production and Consumption--The Phenomenon of Men Pretending to be Women in Short Videos[J]. Journalism and Mass Communication ,2020(07):88-95.
[4]. Fung, A., & Hu, Y. (2022). Douyin, storytelling, and national discourse. International Communication of Chinese Culture, 9, 139–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40636-022-00259-z
[5]. Xing, J. (2024). A multidimensional perspective on cross-gender videos in TikTok: Performance strategies, content production, and social impacts. In Proceedings of the 2024 10th International Conference on Humanities and Social Science Research (ICHSSR 2024) (pp. 1729-1735). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-277-4_194
[6]. Chen, P., Si, R., & Chen, R. (2020). China internet audio-visual industry development report (2019). Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press.
[7]. Xingtu. (2024). Giant star map - Douyin, Toutiao commercial content intelligent transaction & management platform. Retrieved from https://www.xingtu.cn/ad/creator/market
[8]. Chou, H. (1997). Striking their own poses: The history of cross-dressing on the Chinese stage. TDR (1988-), 41(2), 130–152. https://doi.org/10.2307/1146629
[9]. Duan, Y. (2023). The Construction of LGBT+ Groups Images on Douyin Based on Symbolic Interaction Theory. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media, 6(1), 1007–1015. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/6/20220949
[10]. Tang, X., Zou, W., Hu, Z., & Tang, L. (2021). The Recreation of Gender Stereotypes in Male Cross-Dressing Performances on Douyin. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 65(5), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2021.1955888
[11]. Chen, P., Si, R., Chen, R., Zhang, W., & Shen, W. (2024). China internet audio-visual industry development report (2023). Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press.
[12]. Index- Oceanengine. (2024). Trendinsight.oceanengine.com. https://trendinsight.oceanengine.com/arithmetic-index
Cite this article
Chen,X. (2024). Cross-Gender Performances and Audience Engagement on Douyin. Advances in Social Behavior Research,12,31-36.
Data availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
Disclaimer/Publisher's Note
The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s). EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.
About volume
Journal:Advances in Social Behavior Research
© 2024 by the author(s). Licensee EWA Publishing, Oxford, UK. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Authors who
publish this series agree to the following terms:
1. Authors retain copyright and grant the series right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this
series.
2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the series's published
version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial
publication in this series.
3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and
during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See
Open access policy for details).