Niang pao
Chinese gender-based slur
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Niang pao (Chinese: 娘炮) is a derogatory Chinese term for men perceived to be effeminate.
| 娘炮 | |
| Pronunciation | Niángpào |
|---|---|
| Etymology | Literally "girlie guns / cannons" |
| Meaning | Effeminate man |
| Definition | Derogatory Chinese slang term for men perceived as effeminate |
| Classification | Gender-based slur |
| Other terms | |
| Synonyms | "Sissy" |
| Demographics | |
| Native to | Chinese language and culture |
Overview
History
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) used the term in a 2018 Xinhua item intended to show its preference for the portrayal of virile Chinese men on the Internet.[4]
In 2018, the official WeChat account of People’s Daily published a commentary denouncing “such derogatory phrases including ‘niangpao,’” and called for respect and tolerance of diversified aesthetics.[5]
In 2019, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences endorsed the conspiracy theory that the United States Central Intelligence Agency initiated the phenomenon with a deliberate "campaign to 'brainwash' Asian men" starting in 1962 in Japan with the Johnny & Associates talent agency.[6]
On 2 September 2021, the CCP's Publicity Department announced that it would work on "comprehensive government" of the entertainment industry.[7]: 69 This was a response to excesses in the industry, including violations of law (such as tax evasion) and public scandals (as when a major online talent program had voting based on QR codes in milk caps, and some fans bought bottles solely for the QR codes and wasted the bottled milk).[7]: 69 The document stated that celebrity behavior that set a bad example for young people should be reined in, stating the need to curb "lawless and immoral entertainers" and "abnormal aesthetics."[7]: 69 Also on 2 September, the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) issued a more concrete edict to prevent fandom behaviors deemed unhealthy:[7]: 69 It stated that abnormal aesthetics included niangpao,[7]: 70 which garnered media attention outside of China.[1][3][8] The Guardian noted Chinese television programs Youth With You and Produce 101 as examples that were targeted.[9]