Framing #MeToo movement in China A Content Analysis of China Women’s News Coverage

Grounded in the framing theory, this article examined a differential study by content analysis. After the #MeToo movement rapidly trended in at least 85 countries including China, many people’s life and mind have been changed. The purpose of this study was to explore the frames used in the news coverage in China Women’s News referring to sexual harassment/assault and to examine how far the sense of gender equality has been changed in China especially after the #MeToo movement began. The sample came from the online database of a total of 546 relevant coverage from 2014 to 2020 in China Women’s News without duplicated, by separately using the search terms “MeToo movement”, “sexual harassment”, “sexual assault”, and “gender equality”. The study examined these frame content by conducting a comparative analysis before and after the #MeToo movement began in China. Results of the content analysis show statistical significance followed the two-step procedure. Future research suggestions and implications are provided based on these findings