Discursive state feminism in the Xi era navigating gender discourse, nationalism, and global ambitions

China’s approach to state feminism is marked by ambivalence: while promoting women’s rights through official narratives, the state simultaneously suppresses feminist activism and reinforces women’s traditional roles. To examine this tension, this study conducted content and critical thematic analysis of People’s Daily (2012–2024), focusing on how four terms–‘feminism’, ‘feminine-ism’, ‘women’s liberation’, and ‘gender equality’–are discursively constructed. The study found that ‘feminism’ and ‘feminine-ism’ are marginalized as Western, elitist concepts; ‘women’s liberation’ is framed as part of the CCP’s revolutionary legacy; and ‘gender equality’ which is tied to national development, demographic goals, and global leadership has emerged as the dominant framing. Drawing on Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory, the study conceptualized ‘gender equality’ as a nodal point in a hegemonic discourse that unifies contradictory narratives and legitimizes state control. It defined this framing as discursive state feminism which functions as an ideological tool to manage domestic expectations and enhance China’s international image rather than a transformative commitment to women’s rights. By introducing ‘discursive state feminism’, this article offered a new lens to understand the performative dimensions of gender discourse in authoritarian contexts and contributed to broader debates on the intersection of gender, ideology, and governance.