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Sex Talk: Discourses About Female Bodies in Hong Kong Media

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Abstract

Sex and Chinese culture appear to be at odds with one another. Sex talk, however, has been on constant supply in Hong Kong media in the past decade. Considering that Chinese culture prefers to conceal, rather than reveal, sexual matters, this study probes into the phenomenon which sees the proliferation of sex-related debates and controversies in news media in this predominantly Chinese society. Two cases about photobooks of female models were used to illuminate the dominant discourses regarding female bodies in Hong Kong media. Since 2009, photobooks featuring teenage models in sexy poses have become standard provisions in the annual Hong Kong Book Fair. In 2015, a 6-year old girl participated in the production of a photobook. It soon caught the attention of critics who questioned the sexual connotations of a few pictures. Despite the decision to recall all copies, the incident provoked debates on child pornography and a rare discussion about sexual agency. This study has identified various discourses in mainstream news media and social media. It was found that morality and money are two keywords that best summarize how Hong Kong responds to sex matters, while changing media technologies are opening up space for alternative views.

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  1. School of Journalism and Communication, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong

    Donna Chu

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  1. Donna Chu
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Correspondence to Donna Chu.

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Chu, D. Sex Talk: Discourses About Female Bodies in Hong Kong Media. Sexuality & Culture 21, 882–900 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-017-9427-9

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