A male idol becoming a girl? Nisu fans' sexual fantasy about male stars

Tingting Hu, Chenchen Zou*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The emergent movement of reverse Sue (Nisu) in China refers to the practice of (especially female) fans imagining themselves as having a strong male role to their idols' weak female role. In this process, female fans take on a powerful, active role to protect and look after their male idols in female form. Examining how Nisu fans interact with other types of fans and negotiate a mainstream gender discourse dominated by traditional heterosexual norms reveals how, as a burgeoning subcultural group, female Nisu fans express their subversive potential by seeking the power of an imaginary phallus to defy male hegemony. However, their internal divergence and self-contradiction might weaken this defiance.
Original languageEnglish
JournalTransformative Works and Cultures
Publication statusPublished - 14 Dec 2023

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