Fall in love with the ‘sister husband’: Transgressing gender dynamics through the stardom of Chen Lijun

This article explores the intersection of gender dynamics in popular culture and government regulation, focusing on the rising stardom of yueju (Shaoxing opera) actress Chen Lijun. Chen’s cross-dressing performance in New Dragon Gate Inn on Douyin garnered millions of views and earned Chen the moniker ‘sister husband’ due to her androgynous appeal. The analysis posits that Chen’s meteoric rise to fame is intertwined with the Chinese government’s regulation of cross-gender aesthetics, particularly in relation to young male idols and dramas inspired by danmei (Boys’ Love) novels. Despite governmental constraints on broadcasting effeminate male images, fans have pursued androgynous beauty in alternative arenas like yueju. This examination delves into how Chen’s persona has ignited a reimagination of gender dynamics and intimate relationships among fans, providing a platform for the active exploration of female subjectivity within the confines of Chinese societal conventions. This inquiry presents a novel perspective on the recent escalation in the admiration for cross-gender beauty within Chinese female fandom.