In recent months, Chinese authorities have intensified their campaign against “boys love” (BL) fiction. This genre has taken the world by storm, particularly young women. This move indicates a broader strategy by the government to expand its surveillance over subcultures and further restrict freedom of speech.
Professor Wang Pan is an expert on Chinese social media and pop culture, based at the University of New South Wales. In specifics, he points to the booming market for boys love fiction. He observes how it has inspired unprecedented levels of young people, particularly women, to pay attention and get engaged. The government has taken draconian steps to combat the social impact of these narratives. Officials may view them as handcuffs that are tying up their efforts to force their specific set of conservative values.
Recent Arrests and Censorship
Current estimates signal the detention of no fewer than 100 writers, among them some of the authors’ most staunch critics. University student Sijindejin was delivered a notice in mid May. It forced her to register at a local police office in Gansu province. The ordeal made her take nearly 970 kilometers from her hometown in Chengdu to honor the decree.
The federal government’s starvation diet of censorship is hardly new, as it shored up its restrictions on “digitally obscene” content in 2010. Further, these regulations categorically criminalize the production, reproduction, publication, or dissemination of obscene works if it receives more than 5,000 clicks. Additionally, they only work when profits are more than 5,000 yuan (about $1,072). The crackdown on boys love fiction serves as a reminder of the strict limitations placed on creative expression within the country.
“I thought I could write my way out of the orbit of my destiny, and I thought I was writing my future, but I didn’t realize that that future pointed to prison.” – Sijindejin
Professor Wang expands on what this crackdown means, explaining that,
This current draconian crackdown has real impacts beyond the legal realm. It further traumatizes the emotional and psychological health of numerous creators within the boys love literature community. Elsa, one of the writers in this expanding genre, shared her mourning for other writers that have been detained for their craft.
“The authors, who were the targets of criminal detention, were mostly female subculture content creators. They were underprivileged and earned some meagre fees and reward payments for their writing.” – Professor Wang
Impact on Writers and Community
The popular website Haitang, frequented by fans of boys love fiction, has been suspended until July 8 as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to stifle this subculture. This suspension removes yet another platform from writers and readers – an increasingly shrinking set of venues.
“It’s impossible not to feel anxious and disappointed.” – Elsa
A lawyer named Zhang Dongshuo reflected on the age group most targeted by these detentions. He noted many of those the program is targeting are from low income families. They’ve not enjoyed much economic gain from their creative pursuits.
According to Zhang, the government does not intend to make money with this government crackdown. Instead, they are fighting to recreate cultural conversations around sex.
“It seems that they have detained writers from poor family backgrounds who haven’t made much money as well.” – Zhang Dongshuo
The crackdown on boys love fiction is once again a severe blow to China’s LGBT community. It puts into peril the freedom of expression enjoyed by authors across the country. In particular, these actions have more far-reaching consequences than just detaining specific authors. They have the ability to create a broader chilling effect that suppresses future creativity and expression on all media platforms.
Broader Implications for Freedom of Speech
One anonymous writer reflected on the emotional toll of such actions, stating:
Professor Wang stresses that the increasing crackdowns on boys love fiction signals a bigger phenomenon. Those in power wish to police our thoughts and censor our access to independent, competing narratives. He states:
“I’d never expected this day to come, to be hit in the face with every word I’ve written in the past.” – Anonymous writer
The government’s motivations behind this latest crackdown are three-fold. Zhang Dongshuo speculates that officials believe these measures can eliminate the social influence of homosexual love stories while promoting societal values aligned with traditional family structures.
“The market and influence of boys love fiction has been expanding in recent years and is sought after by more and more young people, especially women.” – Professor Wang
The government’s motivations behind this crackdown are complex. Zhang Dongshuo speculates that officials believe these measures can eliminate the social influence of homosexual love stories while promoting societal values aligned with traditional family structures.
“Officials may think that these cases can eliminate the social influence [of homosexual love stories] and give young people a more ‘positive’ sexual orientation, and in a way promote fertility rates.” – Zhang Dongshuo
