Wenxue Zou

1. Perishable human subject data, collected in high-risk settings or immediately following disruptive events, is critical for understanding how communities perceive risk and adapt to cascading disr...

AI now sits in the newsroom, automating stories, checking facts, and powering chatbots that tailor information to users. As audiences begin to “talk” to the news, we still lack a coherent account o...

Cervical erosion has historically been perceived as a severe gynecological condition in China, with its evocative nomenclature conjuring images of decay and moral transgression. Despite recent terminological revisions, the condition remains deeply stigmatized and is frequently exploited within a profit-driven healthcare market. This study employed a critical approach to analyze illness narratives related to cervical erosion as expressed on Sina Weibo, China's preeminent microblogging platform. Our findings extended Frank's illness narrative typology by uncovering a spectrum of narratives, including compliance, shame, resentment, and awakening. While compliance and shame narratives tended to reinforce biomedical authority and perpetuate structural inequities, the emergence of resentment and awakening narratives exposed instances of structural gaslighting and nascent embodied resistance among women. Ultimately, this study illuminates how traditional Chinese cultural values and neoliberal medicalization jointly shape women's health experiences, offering critical insights for fostering more transparent and culturally responsive healthcare practices.

Through the lens of Self-Determination Theory, this study explores the psychological factors influencing young women’s menstrual product choices, set against the evolving sociocultural, gendered, and political backdrop in China. Through in-depth interviews with 33 participants, the research uncovers that women’s preferences are driven by their desire for bodily autonomy, competence, relational connectedness, and the affirmation of personal values. These findings suggest a significant shift from passive endurance to an active, empowered approach in managing menstrual health. Additionally, the findings reveal how cultural norms around hygiene, celebrity endorsements, and a sense of patriotism shape consumer behavior, further complicating women’s decision-making processes. By incorporating personal values into Self-Determination Theory, this study deepens our understanding of how ethical reflections and esthetic sensibilities guide health-related decisions. It also highlights the imperative for media discourses and health campaigns to offer more scientific content and portray more authentic representations of women’s menstrual experiences.

Inadequate hygiene is a key driver of adverse health outcomes among impoverished populations. In many underdeveloped countries, hygiene-focused health promotion programs are often integrated into broader poverty alleviation initiatives. Drawing on a critical health communication approach and Scott's framework of public and hidden transcripts, this study investigates hygiene promotion campaigns targeting rural migrants in China, led by poverty alleviation officials. Semi-structured interviews with 42 participants, including both officials and migrants, reveal divergent narratives surrounding these efforts. In the public transcript co-constructed by officials and the public, hygiene promotion is portrayed as a governmental endeavor aimed at benefiting the populace, garnering gratitude and support from impoverished migrants. This contrasts sharply with the hidden transcripts of both parties. Officials perceive hygiene promotion as a potent instrument capable of revolutionizing the perceived ignorant, backward, and disorderly agricultural lifestyle of migrants, thereby catalyzing a profound societal metamorphosis toward modernization. Nevertheless, migrants emphasize the autonomous and thoughtful nature of their hygienic choices. These findings uncover the modernization agenda underlying hygiene-based poverty alleviation, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of domination and resistance while critiquing how the imposed Western-centric framework marginalizes impoverished populations by undermining their cultural and social identities.

Gay men remain significantly marginalised in China due to entrenched cultural norms emphasising masculinity and family lineage, as well as issues of legitimacy. This study explores how young gay men in China navigate societal and intra-community stigma and the strategies they employ to manage its impact on their identity and mental well-being. Drawing on interviews with 19 participants, a critical discourse analysis of their narratives reveals a hierarchical group structure based on perceived masculinity, which creates distinctions between 'deserving' and 'undeserving' gay identities. Many participants adhere to a standardised aesthetic framework characterised by a sexualised gaze. Their perceptions of self and others often exhibit internal conflicts, and their sense of belonging appears to contribute minimally to societal change. The study highlights how Chinese gay culture is fragmented by limited openness, inclusivity, and diversity. This fragmentation results in a focus on defining 'homosexuality' itself rather than the potential of same-sex relationships to promote collective social change. In this study there was a notable disinterest among participants in consolidating a cohesive group identity, with individuals prioritising personal status over achieving a cultural consensus, thereby creating obstacles to pursuing greater social acceptance and asserting rights as part of a gay community.