Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research

Center for Asian Public Opinion Research & Collaboration Initiative (충남대학교 아시아여론조사학회)
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An Exploratory Study on Chinese Females' Social Media Self-Presentation: A Case Study of WeChat

  • Received : 2021.11.15
  • Accepted : 2022.05.29
  • Published : 2022.08.31
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Abstract

Based on Goffman's dramaturgical theory and self-objectification framework, this study examined: 1) Chinese female's WeChat self-presentation, 2) the impact of WeChat usage on female self-objectification, and 3) the impact of self-objectification on WeChat self-presentation tactics. An online survey was conducted. The main findings include: 1) most of the participants chose to beautify their pictures and videos before they posted them, 2) the respondents attached higher importance to appearance-based body attributes than competence-based ones, 3) the most frequently applied self-presentation tactic was ingratiation, 4) WeChat usage was not a predictor of Chinese women's self-objectification, and, 5) along with extroversion, self-objectification had an impact on ingratiation, supplication, self-promotion, and exemplification. Meanwhile, use of the electronic curtain and audience sifting to control who can see a post and for how long demonstrated the empowerment of the users when they conduct self-presentation.

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References

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