Is Pursuit of Jade’s Zhang Linghe too pretty? Here’s what Chinese authorities think

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The pretty general even caught the attention of regulators in China, who have called for the television industry to rectify “issues such as excessive make-up and filter effects”, among other problems, triggering a debate on the state’s role in defining gender norms.

state intervention in aesthetics in the entertainment industry, following a clampdown in 2021 on male beauty standards that targeted “niang pao” pop idols. The derogatory term is used to describe men who are more effeminate and may wear heavy make-up or have dyed hair or delicate features

China has an existing ban on male celebrities wearing earrings on national television

Battle-hardened generals – who should embody masculinity – are being presented as overly soft and meticulously groomed, with some even wearing make-up.”

For issues on gender portrayal in the media...

Qn: How far can we trust what we see in the media today? (EJC Prelim 2025)