Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

Eating Dilemmas of Female Influencers on Xiaohongshu in the Social Media Era: Between Self-Objectification and Self-Empowerment

Qinyi WuJiangsu University of Science and Technology*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

This study examines self-objectification and self-empowerment of female influencers sharing experiences of eating disorders on the digital platform Xiaohongshu. Employing a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitiative analysis with quantitative statistics, it systematically investigates their content production types, eating behavior patterns, and the operation logic of the platform. The findings reveal three primary modes of content production-“experience sharing,” “everyday documentation,” and “public-interest science communication”-most of which are intertwined with commercial elements. Their eating behaviors display a dual pattern of “excessive control-compensatory loss of control,” often accompanied by a high prevalence of both physiological and psychological comorbidities. The study uncovers the binary tension between “objectification and empowerment” in women’s bodily narratives on digital platforms, while also highlighting the alienating influence of commercial logics on eating disorder narratives. These insights offer valuable empirical reference for understanding eating disorder interventions and discourses on women’s bodies in the digital age.

Keywords: social media; female influencers; self-objectification; self-empowerment
Published: November 11, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.NS29462
Volume: CHR Vol.98
pp. 12-18
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