Street, behavior, art: Advocating gender rights and the innovation of a social movement repertoire

In the media, the year 2012 has been named the ‘First Year of Chinese Feminist Activism’. By closely examining the widely influential gender-related media events, this article documents and analyzes the rise and development of ‘street behavioral art’ as a new contentious action repertoire in current Chinese society. In contrast with the flourishing literature on contentious politics in recent years, there is a visible gap in the study of social movement repertoires in China. In order to help fill this gap, the research used in-depth interviews and document analysis to collect data from individuals and organizations that had been participating in today’s Chinese feminist activities. The article first reviews the current theoretical perspectives and related studies in this field, then briefly presents the background of the political contentions in contemporary China around the emergence of street behavioral art. Using empirical data from street activism for gender equality, the article then focuses on analyzing the three key components of this contentious repertoire – street, behavior, and art – by looking at how each contributed to the success of this contentious action repertoire. It is argued that, in considering the rise of street behavioral art, there is a need to examine it in the context of the globalization of social movements (particularly, the flow of social movement discourses and tactics) interacting with the reality of contemporary Chinese society and its particular opportunities and constraints. In conclusion, the author discusses the impact of street behavioral art in advancing a social movement’s agenda in terms of policy advocacy, participation mobilization, and cultural change.