I would like to reflect on my year of study at CSM, a period of great importance to me. Firstly, studying fashion design at LCF ten years ago laid the foundation for my life plan. I deeply appreciate UAL’s teaching methods and believe it offered me numerous learning opportunities, often surprising and always engaging, like an adventure. Secondly, before joining CSM, I had already spent seven years working in fashion education and the industry. I came with specific questions and a purpose, aiming for deeper exploration in my areas of interest to benefit my future career. Thirdly, throughout this learning journey, I experienced significant personal growth, notably in enhancing my initiative and communication skills.

• Study of Body and Body Image

Throughout my studies, I have focused on the topic of body and body image from the start. Over my decade-plus in the fashion industry, I dedicated myself to clothing and styling to make individuals look fashionable. I vividly remember my undergraduate instructors emphasizing the role of designers in educating others about fashion. However, I gradually realized that fashion is not solely determined by the clothes themselves, but by how we perceive and accept our own bodies. Therefore, this year, I chose to study the body, especially women’s body image, moving beyond mere discussions of fashion. I see fashion as an external layer, whereas the impactful factors are internal. This approach has not only highlighted the importance of body image but also clarified the perceptions of body image in the context of Chinese culture and society. This insight has inspired me to pursue lingerie design in the future, aligning with my background and offering a new, meaningful direction. My goal remains to enhance people’s lives positively through my work, making this research on my project significant for my personal career development.

• Enhancement of Thinking Patterns

I place great importance on my way of thinking. I have a personal model for approaching projects, which allows me to process various content and ultimately produce results through a series of thought processes. This learning experience has significantly refined my thinking model. Initially, my model was more suited for design work, focusing on continuous experimentation based on technical creation rather than action and interaction. Practically, it was akin to working in isolation, with actions based on individual effort, from research to repeated experiments, lacking interaction and thus universal applicability.

In the MAAI course, each project helped enhance this model. ‘The Box Uncertainties’ project, for instance, taught me the art of asking questions. I learned that asking questions is not straightforward; it involves developing them, a process similar to developing a design. This approach led me to discover true uncertainties, pushing me out of my comfort zone into genuine exploration.

Another impactful aspect was the WHAT-WHY-HOW-WHAT IF framework. The ‘WHAT’ stage made me realize that a project impacts not just me but also society and others. It’s about finding and developing questions in multiple dimensions. ‘WHY’ allowed me to delve deeper into issues, rather than staying on the surface. The ‘HOW’ stage, crucial for action and interaction, involved repeated testing and interventions, clarifying problem-solving approaches. This is similar to design logic but fundamentally different. The ‘WHAT IF’ stage provided a target, guiding my problem-solving process towards a clear goal. It showed that even in design, outcomes can be open-ended, but the ‘WHAT IF’ forms the foundation and direction of the creative and logical thought process. Therefore, refining my thinking model has been immensely valuable.

• Understanding My MBTI Type (INTP)

At the beginning of UNIT 3, I seriously evaluated my MBTI personality and discovered I am an INTP. This means my strengths lie in logical thinking and generating ideas. However, it also revealed my weaknesses: poor communication and interaction skills, and a lack of initiative, as I previously mentioned about my thinking model. Consequently, each intervention during the learning process was a significant challenge for me, not due to a lack of ideas, but because of my uncertainty in interacting with others. Additionally, I rarely used social media; it was merely a search tool for me, never a platform for socializing. Initially, I was unsure about writing blogs, despite having many thoughts, making it difficult to express them online.

Fortunately, with my tutor’s encouragement, I stepped out of my comfort zone. I started using platforms like TikTok and XiaoHongShu, engaging with strangers on TikTok and publishing articles about body image on XiaoHongShu. This was a considerable challenge and breakthrough for me. It also opened up my horizons; through interactions on TikTok, I quickly learned how Gen Z engages socially on the internet and about their online lives. Using XiaoHongShu, I gained insights into the current state of female body image in the context of Chinese culture and society. I found that interacting with others online was a suitable method for me, successfully engaging without the anxiety and discomfort I usually felt. Now, I often communicate with others on social media, like when I contacted four men via TikTok to participate in a focus group on males. A few months ago, I couldn’t have imagined inviting strangers from the internet to join my project. I am truly grateful for the changes this course has brought to me and for the encouragement and support from my tutors.

• Social Media Usage

Discussing social media, as I mentioned earlier, using it marked a significant breakthrough for me, particularly considering my personality traits. The changes it brought about are even more crucial. Social media has reshaped my understanding and planning for my future career. Initially, I viewed it as a waste of time, promoting thoughtlessness, dependence, and addiction among people. However, between August and September, spending 6-7 hours daily on social media led me to a profound realization. I now see its rational existence in the rise and popularity. It dramatically expanded my knowledge of the world, society, and humanity, as if I had read a thousand books. It opened new doors of perception for me. Before engaging with social media, I had a sort of ‘strange spiritual nobility’; now, I’m more practical and understand how to implement and take action.

I still hold the belief that it’s important to adapt and identify problems within set rules to resolve them. This approach makes tasks more interesting and challenging, much like playing a game. In the future, I plan to use social media in my own way to achieve my goals.

These are the four most crucial points I have identified.

In conclusion, I am deeply grateful to each tutor for their contributions to this course. Their dedicated involvement, from the curriculum design to each patient tutorial, has enriched my year tremendously. MAAI has been like a major intervention and a successful change maker for me, providing a vital piece in the puzzle of my life, making me feel more complete.

In this final phase, I summarize the data and experiences gathered over the past three months regarding XiaoHongShu, a critical social media platform in China, especially influential among women.

XiaoHongShu’s user base mainly comprises young people, particularly women born after the 1990s, interested in fashion, beauty, health, and travel. The platform boasts over 200 million monthly active users, with 72% being post-90s generation and 50% residing in first and second-tier cities (QuestMobile, 2023).The primary user activities include discovery, creation, sharing, and searching, with a high trust in the authenticity and quality of content.

In comparison to other platforms like Douyin, Kuaishou, Weibo, and Bilibili, XiaoHongShu ranks third in user scale as of September 2023, with a younger user demographic and stronger penetration in more affluent urban areas. Notably, XiaoHongShu’s growth rate has been significant over the past year, and its users spend an average of 71.7 minutes daily on the platform, with a concentration of influencers having fewer than 500,000 followers(QuestMobile, 2023).

My reflection is structured into five parts:

• First Ban Experience

My initial post, a simple illustration of the female body, resulted in a 7-day ban for violating content guidelines, labeled as ‘inappropriate’. This led me to interview an internet celebrity to understand this phenomenon, revealing the inherent gender biases in social media rules and the influence of social and cultural contexts. I adapted by posting in a more subtle and academic tone, focusing on safe topics like K-pop girl group music videos and essay-like articles to avoid direct discussions on the female body.

• Encounter with MBB

After my first post, a 1999-born girl named MBB reached out, finding support in my content. She became a significant stakeholder, previously known to me as a student but with limited interaction. Through the project, we developed a friendship, and her perspective as a Gen Z Chinese woman was insightful. Her change through the project’s interventions was encouraging, though my impact remained limited to a small group of women.

• Impact of Cyberbullying

A specific blog post of mine details the impact of cyberbullying, highlighting the challenges in discussing female body image in China and the effects of ‘male gaze’ and societal expectations on women. This led me to focus interventions on self-acceptance and awareness, offering safer and more private approaches.

• Ongoing Observation

Over these three months, I continuously monitored the data changes on my XiaoHongShu account, treating it as a long-term intervention. As of December 3, 2023, daily views and interactions have been growing, with feedback from followers suggesting the lasting impact of the content online.

• Future Applications

Post-project, I might close this account due to uncertainty over the intentions of new followers gained during the cyberbullying phase. However, the observed sustained influence of social media platforms is significant. Future plans include combining social media with lingerie branding, creating an account to promote positive body image and facilitate gender communication, using lingerie as a medium to emphasize the importance of body image.

Overall, this experience with XiaoHongShu has been a meaningful and challenging journey, marking my first substantial engagement with social media.

Reference：

QuestMobile (2023a). QuestMobile 2023 She-Economy Insight Report: Nearly 600 Million Active Female Users, Consumer Desire and Capability Far Surpassing Males, Three Major Trends Highlighting ‘Value’ Transition – Industry Research Report – QuestMobile. [online] www.questmobile.cn. Available at: https://www.questmobile.cn/research/report/1632941902704775169 [Accessed 13 Aug. 2023].

QuestMobile (2023b). QuestMobile 2023 New Media Ecosystem Insights: Industry User Base of 1.088 Billion, User Circulation and Segmentation Entering a New Phase, Platforms Seeking Growth and Monetization through Two Major Approaches – Industry Research Report-QuestMobile. [online] Questmobile.com.cn. Available at: https://www.questmobile.com.cn/research/report/1726888249161519105 [Accessed 23 Nov. 2023].

Dear Reader,

Below is the index for the entire blog. You can locate specific blogs by using different keywords. This journey, starting from “The Box of Uncertainties” to the end of Unit 4, is centered around exploring body-related topics. I hope this index aids in your easy navigation of my blog. Additionally, I have included a logic map of the project’s development at the end for your convenience.

Best wishes，

Mayna

Unit4

———————————-Intervention———————————-

Round 2 – Intervention

Female – Intervention

• Intervention Plan：

Intervention plan 2-BodyLens: A 7-Day Journey in Perceiving the Female Form

• Intervention action，funding and reflection：

Intervention on Female Body Image: Feedback, Summary, and Reflection

Male – focus group2

• Intervention Plan：

Intervention plan 1-Online Seminar: exploring how men view female body image

• Intervention action，funding and reflection：

Intervention – Online Seminar: exploring how men view female body image-Insights and Outcomes from Intervention, Interviews, and Expert Feedback.

Last intervention：

Female – Intervention

• Intervention action，funding and reflection：

Regarding the Final Test on Female: Action, Findings, and Reflection

Male – Intervention

• Intervention action，funding and reflection：

Regarding the Final Test of Male Perspectives: Action, Findings, and Reflection

———————————-Reflection———————————-

Final Reflections, Summary, and Acknowledgments

Final Reflections, Summary, and Acknowledgments

Reflecting on the Final Phase of the XiaoHongShu Project

Reflecting on the Final Phase of the XiaoHongShu Project

Reflections on Cyberbullying and Current Female Body Image in China：[Password: MTWTFSS]

Protected: Reflecting on Cyberbullying and its Aftermath

Reflection on the Tutorial from October 30th：

Reflection on the Tutorial from October 30th

The Red book (XiaoHongShu) Data Update and Reflection：

The Red book (XiaoHongShu) Data Update and Comparison

Reflections After Dragon’s Den:

Reflections After Dragon’s Den

————————————-Other—————————————

Applying the Research Onion：

Real-time Progress: Weekly Activities & Reflections – Part 2 Saunders Research Onion

Past review：

Real-time Progress: Weekly Activities & Reflections – Part 1 Past Review

Unit 3

———————————-Intervention———————————-

Round 1 – intervention

Xiaohongshu – social media：

Intervention – The Red Book 1: Body Image and Public-Private Boundaries – Women’s Self-Concept through the Intervention Practices of The Red Book

Intervention – The Red Book 2: K-POP AND BODY IMAGE – New Perspectives on Women in Generation Z from (G)I-dle’s Nxde

Intervention – The Red Book 3: You are a Unique Star in the Universe – A Casual Love Letter to Physical Freedom and Confidence

Male – focus group 1: 

In-depth analysis and reflection: female body image and “The Box” project from a male perspective

———————————-Interview———————————-

Gen-z couple:

Experiences and Expectations: Female Body Image from the Perspective of Gen Z Couples in China

Psychology Expert：

Unlocking Freedom: Female Body Image and Social Expectations from a Cross-Cultural Perspective

Internet Celebrity：

Dialogue Summary: Exploring the Complex Relationship between Female Body Image and Social Media in Chinese Society

———————-Social Media Use and Impact————————-

Xiaohongshu Ban：

The Red Ban: Challenges, Reflections and Moving Forward

Academic Literature Research：

The box: Redefining Female Body Image in the Age of Social Media from Body Image Disturbance among Females: the Influence Mechanism of Social Network Sites

Short videos, female body image and depression: a reflective analysis and future direction of a study on body image of a Chinese female university student

—————————-Understanding Gen-Z—————————-

Attempting Communication with Gen-Z on Social Media：

My “Internet” Awakening: Meeting Gen Z on Social Media

Social Media’s Influence on Gen-Z (Data)：

Generation Z and Body Image Impact in the Digital Age

———————————–Other———————————–

Experiences and Reflections from Nude Riding:

WNBR – A journey into self and world awareness

The meaning of being an activist：

Deconstructing Female Body Image as an Activist: My Strategies and Practices – a change from a closed world to an infinite universe.

Unit 1

————————-WHAT-WHY-HOW-WHAT IF————————-

Study Proposal：

WHAT-WHY-HOW-WHAT IF ___Study Proposal

Early Intervention：

Origins of Inspiration: From Conception to Action – Part 3

————————-The Change I Want to See————————-

Origins of Inspiration: From Conception to Action – Part 2

————————-The Box of Uncertainties————————-

Origins of Inspiration: From Conception to Action – Part 1

—————A logic map of the project’s development —————

Action: Building on previous interventions about women, I created a booklet titled “Stellar Traveler: Seven Days Journeying with the Body.” Inspired by Lawrence M. Krauss’s quote about stardust, it reflects on the objective nature of our bodies. Incorporating Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s theory of phenomenology, the booklet focuses on a seven-day journey, encouraging participants to record and perceive their bodily experiences. Each day explores different aspects like body-environment interaction, uniqueness, sensing, self-acceptance, emotional connections, social media impact, and envisioning the future self. This format aims to inspire daily exploration and gradual acceptance of one’s body. Feedback came from one new participant and three who had previously joined interventions, especially M BB, who had engaged from the start.

Findings: The feedback was invaluable, confirming the effectiveness of this intervention for women. The new participant appreciated the seven-day length, establishing a habit of self-dialogue and self-affirmation. It helped her rediscover long-ignored aspects of her body and psyche. Another participant realized she often overlooked her body’s signals. The booklet also shifted perceptions about the “ideal body” on social media, highlighting the importance of observing and feeling one’s body changes. Thus, constant recording and reflecting can lead to conscious acceptance of one’s body, shifting focus from external to internal.

Reflection: While participants found the intervention meaningful, its reach was limited. They had pre-exposure to body image concepts through Xiaohongshu notes, suggesting the booklet might be challenging for those completely new to body image concepts. Future considerations involve balancing content integration and participant engagement without demanding excessive offline time. Social media will continue to play a role in promoting positive body image concepts.

Participant XIN：

Reference：
Lawrence Maxwell Krauss (2012). A Universe from Nothing : Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing. New York: Free Press.
Merleau-Ponty, M. and Landes, D.A. (2012). Phenomenology of Perception. Abingdon, Oxon ; New York: Routledge.

Action: In the final phase, building on the results of previous discussions with men, I designed a booklet centered around dialogues. It compiles stories narrated by women about their body image, gathered from interviews and other forms of communication, along with my own stories, into dialogue-based narratives. This booklet not only delves into the complex and significant topic of female body image but also facilitates profound male-female dialogues. Through the interactions of characters Starlight (symbolizing women) and Comet (symbolizing men), it explores body image, self-acceptance, and societal-cultural influences. Starlight’s candid sharing reveals the pressures and struggles women face regarding body image in modern society. In contrast, Comet’s blank response sections provide an opportunity for male readers to engage in this dialogue, fostering understanding and respect. I distributed this booklet to three men: one who had previously participated in online seminars, one who had never engaged in any intervention, and a social science expert who had been interviewed earlier, now participating as a subject.

Findings: The feedback from men was somewhat surprising. They were astonished by women’s perceptions and genuine thoughts about body image, indicating a clear communication gap between the sexes. Such dialogues helped men begin to understand women’s perspectives on body image and modify their expectations, acknowledging the existence of biases and the male gaze. To me, this dialogue slightly challenged the ‘male gaze’, shifting men’s long-standing expectations of female body image. Therefore, enhancing male-female interactions can lead to greater understanding, respect, and acceptance of women with diverse body images. The feedback from the man who had participated in two online discussions showed that through seminars and the booklet, he began to understand that women should not face so much criticism and judgment about their bodies. During the seminar on the topic of ‘being overweight’, learning more about the backgrounds of female bloggers in the cases, along with their photos and videos, he sensed a slight shift in attitudes towards female body image. However, the other two men also expressed that they had rarely or never discussed this topic with women before. Through such dialogues, they realized that male biases and gazes indeed harm women.

Reflection: Each participant felt that as men, they seldom have the opportunity to express or listen to women’s views on body image without reservations. The booklet provided them a casual platform for this dialogue, prompting them to start thinking about the issue. However, they also believed that for some men lacking empathy, this format might not be effective in making them realize the seriousness of these issues. Compared to the intense discussions in seminars, the booklet, though lighter in form, was perceived as less profound or lacking strong opinions. This honest feedback made me realize that each intervention method has its pros and cons, affecting individuals differently based on their personalities. Reflecting on this, I also want to eliminate biases against men, acknowledging that not every man holds the same level of expectations regarding female bodies. In the future, I plan to organize more diverse activities to encourage positive dialogues on this topic among both sexes. These could range from male-only participation to introducing female participants, to better encourage the elimination of biases. Workshops incorporating arts like painting, film, and music could also be organized to facilitate discussions on the topic. In conclusion, such dialogues are important, positive, and necessary.

Reference：

Mulvey, L. (1975). Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. Screen, 16(3), pp.6–18.

Berger, J. (1972). Ways of Seeing. Edmonton, Alta.: The Schools.

Key points for project enhancement:

• Need for more secondary research support: The tutor pointed out that although I have an abundance of references, they have not been fully utilized to academically support my arguments.
• Explore the Research Onion: The tutor noted my deductive research approach and encouraged a deeper exploration of the target audience and the description of male influence.
• Strengthen the argumentation: Citing evidence from secondary research would make my arguments more compelling.

Reflection:

Regarding references, I admit I have not organized them timely due to their complexity. However, my project has always been underpinned by substantial academic theory. My approach involves thorough research and deep analysis of academic theories before applying them to the project, which facilitates the development and exploration of new knowledge. I plan to organize the overall academic theories, which will be reflected in my report.

The Role and Importance of Lingerie:

• Concrete Concepts: My mentor believes that lingerie can materialize the project’s complex ideas and serve as a focal point for discussion.
• Privacy and Empowerment: Lingerie is intimate yet can be a statement of empowerment through design or discourse.

Reflection:

This past week was confusing, and I conducted related research. I understand the idea of concluding the project with lingerie, especially given the theoretical framework I’ve encountered so far. After a week of research, synthesis, and summarization, I reorganized my thoughts on the project and decided against integrating lingerie at this stage.

Next, I’ll perform a detailed analysis:

• Starting from an individual perspective. Currently, from the female intervention tests, I’ve found results pertaining to women’s self-acceptance. Through phenomenological theories, women are encouraged to experience their bodies interacting with the world. Participants, when closely examining their own bodies, become more aware that their bodies are not just physical entities but subjects capable of sensation, thought, and interaction with their environment, and they begin to acknowledge and accept their own bodies. This, I believe, is the essence of addressing the research question. For women in Chinese society, the initial issue to tackle is learning to accept their body image. While lingerie can serve as a medium, or academically speaking, as fashion prosthesis, before presenting oneself, one must learn self-acceptance. Moreover, while lingerie can indeed empower women, I believe the discussion around lingerie belongs to the next phase following this project.
• Cultural limitations, social expectations, and various policies make incorporating lingerie into the project challenging. For example, when I posted about the Crazy Horse show on social media, it led to cyberbullying. I’ve never shared experiences like naked ride on Chinese social media; these actions shock Chinese society’s women who struggle to accept them. In China, going out without underwear is still not recognized as appropriate, considered by many as highly indecent. During my research, I read about a Chinese woman’s five-year struggle with wearing underwear, who eventually gave up her bodily freedom for her job environment, choosing to wear uncomfortable lingerie. Surprisingly, she viewed her inability to choose not to wear underwear as a betrayal of feminism. In my opinion, her real issue was not fully accepting herself, leading her to waver between bodily freedom and social expectations, ultimately guided by societal norms to feel like a traitor to feminist ideas. Such stories highlight that discussions about bodily freedom in China are still at a fundamental level. That’s why I aim for more gentle, safe, and private interventions for women, targeting individuals as much as possible. I have some ideas about introducing lingerie, but they’re too bold for Chinese society and the internet, posing safety risks for me and the participants. It’s like trying to skip to level three in a game without completing level one. So, addressing women’s self-acceptance of their body image is the key to challenging Chinese cultural and social expectations of the female body. Only by shifting this point can we move effectively to the next stage.

In summary, during this week of contemplation and reflection, I’ve come to envision presenting two booklets: one for women, focusing on body exploration experiences, resembling the interventions to allow for safer and more private conversations about their bodies; and one for men, presented in a dialogic format. As the author, I will use text and images to help men understand that communication about female body image can be barrier-free and foster positive discussions. I believe this would be the best interpretation and conclusion for my project.

In our recent 7-day intervention project on female body image, we engaged 6 participants in a multimedia observation and recording exercise to explore how women perceive and evaluate their bodies. This article aims to summarize and reflect on the intervention process, feedback, and potential insights.

Participant Feedback Overview and Analysis

We received 5 complete pieces of feedback which revealed several key points:

• Environmental Impact: Feedback indicated that participants’ body images were universally affected by their surroundings, leading to either positive or negative interactions. External factors from society, culture, or specific groups were shaping their perceptions of their own bodies. Reflecting on Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy, the body is our primary mode of interacting with the world. As participants documented their bodily sensations, they were perceiving and understanding themselves and their environment through their bodies. By closely observing their bodies, they became more aware that the body is not just a physical entity but a subject capable of perception, thought, and interaction with the environment.

• Detailed Observation: During the 7-day diary, participants observed their bodies meticulously, noting every detail which led them to a deeper realization of their body’s uniqueness. Merleau-Ponty’s concept of ‘pre-reflective bodily existence’ highlights that the body is fundamentally connected to the world even before any reflective thought occurs. Throughout the intervention, participants’ bodies influenced their self-image and acceptance even before deep reflection, becoming aware and accepting of their bodies, an embodiment of pre-reflective bodily existence.

• Awakening of Self-Acceptance: The intervention also brought about a positive change. Over time, many participants began to recognize their close relationship with their bodies and started to learn self-acceptance. Participants expressed their body perceptions through language, which aligns with Merleau-Ponty’s view of the body and language as co-generative. Their feedback, conveyed through words about their bodily observations and feelings, also shaped their cognition of their bodies.

Reflections

The reflection on this intervention mainly includes two points:
1) the number of participants and the quantity of their feedback, and 2) the perspective on women’s self-acceptance.

Firstly, in this intervention, I invited 7 participants, of which 6 agreed to participate, and 5 provided proactive feedback within the set time. Particularly, two participants showed great interest in the activity. Compared to the male online seminar, the enthusiasm of female participants was significantly lower. Women are generally not very willing to publicly discuss body topics, and as this was an offline event taking up their time, the 7-day logging format could be seen as bothersome, even though they understood the intent. This wasn’t as engaging for them, especially if they weren’t very interested in the topic of body image. This suggests that for interventions, the flexibility of offline activities is not enough, which also confirms that today’s Generation Z relies more on the internet. This has made me realize the importance of utilizing social media. From a longer-term perspective, my project is very suitable for long-term penetration through social media. The concept of body image is not widely popular in China, and due to cultural and social reasons, it is relatively difficult to advance this topic. (I will discuss specific cases in another blog post.)

Secondly, in my project, the interventions for women are more private and safer. I hope to offer women interventions that feel more secure because when talking about the body, women often think of getting hurt, like malicious comments from outsiders. A safer intervention allows them to interact with me more relaxedly. Self-acceptance is also a relatively private topic. According to the results, I found that women pay very detailed attention to their body image, focusing on details such as fingernails, skin texture, and even how the amount of food they eat affects their weight. This result is important to me as it proves the level of anxiety women have about their body image. I also have some personal experiences; I used to care a lot about whether my nails looked good and would continuously get manicures. However, now I cannot continue this due to some reasons, which initially caused me anxiety. Over time, as I observed my nails daily, I gradually began to accept them and feel they are beautiful even without nail polish. This shows that women’s self-perception of body image is very detailed. From the 7-day log, I can clearly see that some participants are completing a journey of conversation with their bodies by answering the questions I set and through the 7-day logging. I am happy to see such results and hope more women can have this experience. This also means that, according to Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of perception, I have gained a deeper understanding of the subjective experience of women in the body image intervention process. Therefore, in the remaining time, I plan to design a 7-day body journey booklet for women, also in an electronic version, to allow more women to experience this dialogue with the body and to provide a rich experience for women to understand the body, body image, and the role of the body in culture and society.

In summary, the intervention on female body image provided valuable insights into how women perceive, evaluate, and accept their bodies. It also highlighted the need to tailor future interactions to better suit Gen Z women. One participant’s feedback suggested focusing on specific body parts could yield more effective observations, underscoring the detailed nature of women’s self-scrutiny. Moving forward, this suggestion will be incorporated, recognizing the importance of holistic self-observation. Despite the work ahead, this initial effort points to a promising direction.

Lastly, among the participants’ contributions, one documented a 7-day diet, offering an interesting perspective on body image concerns through food. The other two participants preferred not to have their photos shared on the blog.

Reference：
Merleau-Ponty, M. (1962). Phenomenology of Perception. Routledge & K. Paul.

Participant：MBB

Participant：Yan

Participant：Lin Wang

The Red book is an integral part of my intervention measures and serves as a relatively long-term approach. It also embodies the application of Symbolic Interactionism theory in “The Box” project. Women interpret these cultural symbols through their interactions with others, including family, friends, social groups, and media, and form opinions and attitudes about their own bodies accordingly. For instance, the likes and comments received on social media may be interpreted as approval or disapproval of a certain body image. Through these symbol-interactions, women perceive and evaluate their body image, impacting their self-esteem and mental well-being.

The last time I updated data on The Red book in my blog was on October 16th, 2023. Half a month has passed, and it’s time to look at the comparative data on page views and likes.

Data for the Past 7 Days:

• New Followers: 1
• Homepage Visitors: 40
• Views: 373
• Interactions: 28

1, About the box, a box that is about to be opened.

——PV: 443 Likes: 12 The data grew to PV: 452 Likes: 12

2, Decoding “body image” – seeing yourself in the mirror.

——PV: 319 Likes: 12 The data grew to PV: 350 Likes: 13

3, Body image, in-depth exploration and understanding.

——PV: 423 Likes: 10 The data grew to PV: 518 Likes: 13

4, The Body – Public Territory or Private Haven?

——PV: 295 Likes: 5 The data grew to PV: 341 Likes: 5

5, Dual Boundaries of the Body- Public vs. Private

——PV: 599 Likes: 24 The data grew to PV: 778 Likes: 40

6, Nxde: The Queens’ Manifesto of Female Power

——PV:1787 Likes: 57 The data grew to PV: 2226 Likes: 77

7, A love letter to confidence, love and the universe.

——PV: 495 Likes: 11 The data grew to PV: 546 Likes: 15

Due to the online abuse I received after posting notes about the Crazy Horse Show in Paris, I have not updated any new content since then, but I am still receiving traffic. This week, I plan to post at least three new notes on The Red (XiaoHongShu) and interact with my followers.

After the Dragon’s Den, I received a lot of valuable advice. At the same time, it also provided me an opportunity to identify my own shortcomings.

The following is from the presentation:

• Title: Nakedness, The Box
• Coming from my cultural background, experiencing the world in this extreme way allowed me to deeply understand how, as a woman, I should accept myself.
• This led to the creation of my project called “The Box.” My research question is: “How can Chinese cultural perceptions of the female body be challenged, to allow Gen Z females to form a positive self-image, unconstrained by social expectations?”
• Even though the project is about how women can build a positive body image, I’ve actually focused more on men in my testing and interventions. That’s because the societal expectations around women’s bodies are often set by men.
• During my research, I found two key phenomena:
  • When men’s expectations influence some women’s body image, it creates a divide among women themselves.
  • When men establish boundaries and expectations about women’s bodies and then try to engage in conversations on similar topics, women often view these talks as negative and reject them. Men, in turn, face backlash from women, who think their approach is inappropriate.
• So, my project not only helps women to accept themselves but also assists men in reshaping their expectations about women’s bodies. This, in turn, alleviates gender conflicts.
• Finally, I plan to launch an underwear brand in China. The existing market lacks products that use underwear as a medium to boost self-acceptance and shatter gender expectations. Besides the products, I’ll continually educate the public about body image through social media, so the topics of “body” or “female body” no longer remain sensitive and negative in China.

Key Points, External Expert Advice, and Reflection:

Focus and Scope:

Your project is ambitiously comprehensive, encompassing cultural perceptions, gender expectations, and social media. However, the impact of your project might be diluted by attempting to address too many facets. Experts recommend focusing on a singular issue and providing a targeted solution.

• Reflection:

Since the beginning of the MAAI course, every project of mine has been exploring the body—starting from “fashion and body” to “The Box,” and to my current research question: “How can Chinese cultural perceptions of the female body be challenged, to allow Gen Z females to form a positive self-image, unconstrained by social expectations?” It is a continuous inquiry into the body, from its relationship with fashion to the constraints on Chinese female bodies, to female empowerment, and societal expectations for women. This, coupled with the present focus on male-centered social science research, makes my project seem more multifaceted and complex. At this point, the feedback from external experts is invaluable. Through this interaction, I realized some issues were not clearly expressed, providing me the chance to refine my thinking for better articulation. In my project, the interventions and tests for females and males differ; females lean towards accepting their internal self to lessen external evaluation, while males aim to express outwardly, thereby reducing expectations on female bodies. Social media is the most crucial medium in my project because Gen Z is the true digital native generation. To understand and influence them, the internet and social media are the best choices. Therefore, I will continue using the Red Book as an intervention method, targeting my audience to make them aware of body image content and the feedback I have received through multiple rounds of testing. At present, a short-term goal remains to increase the visibility of my content on social media. The increasing number of likes will offer clear insight into what people think about the content I post, as a ‘like’ typically signifies approval or acceptance.\

Perspective and Interaction:

You have included men as contributors to societal expectations in your research. While this is an important angle, introducing too many variables may muddle the issue. If you continue to include men, ensure that their involvement is explicit, focused, and purposeful. How will your project change their perceptions and behaviors?

• Reflection:

On the point about men, indeed there is a practice that could make the issue vague, as if it becomes about exploring men’s issues. However, when focusing on female issues, we really cannot ignore the presence of men. For instance, I found that online violence against women’s bodies often comes from women themselves. Through research on TikTok (predominantly male users) and the Red book (predominantly female users), I found that women are more willing to make aggressive comments about women on the internet. So, I am thinking, what influences them? What sets their standards for the female body image? Actually, the answer is obvious; under a patriarchal society, men’s expectations for female body image are also societal expectations for female body image. Therefore, if I want to find the essence to answer my research question, that answer is “men.” When I designed interventions about women using the theory of phenomenology, it fully understood how Gen Z women form their body image concepts when facing multiple pressures from social media, family, and workplace. Here I only choose the pressures from social media. Then, this goes back to how men and social media expect women’s body image, which is also the reason for my second intervention about men. Based on the advice and questions given by experts, I should simplify it in actual operation. I hope to change men’s cognition and behavior through more direct dialogues, such as seminars and themed workshops.

Both of these points are about the issues caused by the inclusion of men in the project. Next, I will refine the men’s part, making it more targeted. At the same time, I believe that when exploring gender, we cannot engage in a one-sided discussion, as it is incomplete and not rigorous. Moreover, it’s essential to identify the core issue when solving problems; if we discuss an issue without discovering its essence, then such solutions are meaningless.

Role of Lingerie Brand & Background and Cultural Nuances

Experts do not have a clear understanding of how your planned lingerie brand will challenge gender expectations and promote a positive body image for women. You need to provide a more specific explanation of what sets your brand apart and how it serves as a solution to the issue at hand. What does it symbolically represent, and how does it empower women in practice?

Lingerie is typically not shown publicly and its meaning can vary widely depending on the context. Will your brand challenge this norm? Is it aimed at practicality or making a statement?

• Reflection:

In this section, experts gave me advice and raised questions about establishing a lingerie brand. I mentioned this part in my presentation, hoping to show how the concept of ‘The Box’ could be applied to business in the future. However, at the current stage, I haven’t planned on incorporating the lingerie aspect into the project. After graduation, I will continue to popularize education on body image in China through social media. Meanwhile, I will also carry out related activities in commercial projects.

In summary, the Dragon’s Den and the results of my recent intervention have helped me organize my thoughts on the entire project. However, due to the project’s extended duration and extensive content, the focus has become diffuse, weakening its impact. Moving forward, I will hone in on the most crucial aspects. On the other hand, perhaps there are shortcomings in communication and expression, leading to some misunderstandings about parts of the project from experts and mentors. To address this, I will articulate my points in a more logical manner in the final presentation.