Digital Labor Practices Among Rural Mothers in China: A Critical Examination of Gender and Socio-Economic Marginalization

Diverging from the "Digital Mothering 3.0" concept explored by He et al. (2022), which focuses solely on urban mothers, this study adopts an intersectional framework to critically examine the digital labor practices of rural mothers in China, a group distinctly marginalized in social narratives. Unlike urban mothers whose experiences are often encapsulated within existing frameworks, rural mothers face layered vulnerabilities—geographic isolation, limited education, and entrenched gender norms—all complicated by their roles as full-time caregivers in an agricultural setting. An analysis of 50 short videos on Douyin reveals how these mothers express acts of resistance through three forms of labor: 1) Invisible domestic and agricultural labor becomes visible online, actively shaping self-identity; 2) Visible labor aimed at generating household income through social media fame, often restricted by a lack of professional polish; 3) Emotional labor intended to seek belonging through digital intimacies, typically unorganized, rather than fostering a supportive community akin to that of urban mothers.

This study not only links these forms of labor with existing research but also emphasizes the challenges and unique socio-economic strategies faced by rural Chinese mothers. By expanding maternal theories through an intersectional lens (Hooks, 2000), our research provides a platform for rural mothers to redefine identities and challenge mainstream cultural narratives. It also offers critical insights into how technology can empower marginalized groups. Ethical precautions have been taken to minimize the inherent limitations of using publicly available social media content without consent, thereby protecting the privacy of digitally marginalized communities.

Reference

He, G., Leurs, K., & Li, Y. (2022). Researching motherhood in the age of short videos: Stay-at-home mothers in China performing labor on Douyin. Media and Communication, 10(3), 273-289.

Hooks, B. (2000). Feminist theory: From margin to center. Pluto Press.