When Movement Widens the Gap: The Contingent Effect of the Chinese #MeToo Movement on Feminist Attitudes

Social movements are often associated with various cultural outcomes, including shifts in public opinion regarding movement-related attitudes and ideologies. This study examines the shift of feminist attitudes among the public following the Chinese #MeToo movement. We develop a sociotechnical contingency framework that emphasizes how identity-based movement relevance and access to information channels shape the shifts in public opinion following social movements. Using nationally representative data from the Chinese General Social Survey (2010–2023), we find that the #MeToo movement was significantly associated with an increase in pro-feminist attitudes. These changes were unevenly distributed across groups, revealing widening attitudinal gaps along gender identities and digital divides. Our findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of how contemporary digitally mediated movements catalyze cultural change and underscore the need to contextualize their impact as it interacts with structural dynamics.