NPR: 'Super Girls' in China: Holy Gender Bending!

'Super Girls' in China: Holy Gender Bending!

Filed under: News

2005 Super Girl contestant

Hunan TV

Jian Yi on gender-shifting in Chinese culture.

On the show today, we spoke to Jian Yi, independent filmmaker and director of Supergirls!, a documentary following 10 of the 80,000 teenage girls trying out for China's most popular TV show ever, a version of American Idol. Contestants in the Super Girl Singing Contest represent an amazing cross section of China's young population -- urban, rural, rich and poor.

But what's most striking about of a lot of these girls is how much they look like boys. Jian Yi told us one reason for the cropped hair, baggy jeans and big shirts is that most of the call-in voters on the show are girls, and looking like a cute boy in this all-female competition can make a performer more appealing. But he also says there could be a deeper cultural motivation behind it. Take a listen to the clip from our interview with him.

Angela Ellis

8:34 AM ET | 05- 9-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Great segment. It's so important that we start seeing beyond the stereotypes of China.

Sent by Sarah Goodyear | 2:10 PM ET | 05-09-2008

Ooh, i didn't pick up on the gender-bending aspect to the girls' story. I was particularly struck by Mr. Jian Yi's description of his initial distaste for "Super Girl Singing Contest" using 'girlish' as an insult towards the program and then went on to state the superiority and/or likability of American Idol because it's more boyish appeal.

Thank you for having this interview! It's definitely struck my interest artistically and socially.

Sent by Michael Wood | 3:30 PM ET | 05-09-2008

I don't really agree with what was stated in this peace. That the films we do watch from China are not culturally relevant; while they may not be modern film that debate modern difficulties, they do give us insight into their society's cultural ideals.

Take three different "Kung-fu flicks" that were popular in the U.S., Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Once upon a time in China, and Shaolin Soccer. All three have the same subtle under tones, of "we must unite to overcome," now I have noticed that not all film out of China have this same philosophy at their core (leading one to think that this is not mandated by the Communist party.) But enough do to make one believe that this idea does resonate with a segment of the population if not the majority.

Now don't get me wrong I love documentaries and I will be looking forward to watching this one but i feel that a fluff pic is still relevant, in that it will tell you a lot about the cultural norms of any given country.

Sent by manhattan7 | 4:38 PM ET | 05-09-2008

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