China’s stringent laws against pornography have brought a wave of arrests among young women engaged in writing gay erotica, popularly known as “danmei.” Over the past few months, at least 30 female authors, primarily in their twenties, have been apprehended, with some still in custody while others await trial. The writers took to the Chinese social media platform Weibo to discuss their experiences, revealing feelings of humiliation and fear during their arrests.
The crackdown specifically targets those publishing works on Haitang Literature City, a platform known for gay-oriented romantic fiction. Many authors are accused of violating obscenity laws, which close in on gay depictions far more than heterosexual works. This disparity has raised serious concerns among observers, who point out how established heterosexual writers retain some leeway, while the expression of queer narratives is often met with severe repercussions.
Online debates ignited by the arrests have led to expressions of solidarity within the danmei community, but discussions on these topics have been quickly suppressed by censorship. Hashtags highlighting the arrests gained millions of views only to be terminated by platforms, which reflects the pervasive anxiety within the genre's creators.
Despite the turmoil, writers remain passionately connected to their craft, seeking to reclaim narratives in a culture historically hostile to expressions of female desire and gay identity. Critics have pointed out that aspects of the danmei genre provide a counter-narrative to traditional gender roles and societal expectations, with male characters enjoying freedom that escapes many women in their own lives.
As the crackdown unfolds, it signals broader implications for the future of creative expression in China. Legal experts warn that the threshold for what constitutes “obscene” content is alarmingly low, with works garnering as few as 5,000 views risking prosecution for criminal distribution. Survivors of the arrests Speak of their courage and drive to create despite potential consequences, embodying a struggle against a system that seeks to control and marginalize their voices.
Amid these challenges, some danmei authors claim they will continue to write, confronting the fear head-on in hope of a future where their stories can flourish without consequence. They emphasize the vibrancy of their community and how their work represents not only their fight for freedom but also their pursuit of happiness in a restrictive society.
