Femtech has sparked debates over whether it truly promotes wellness or has unintended negative effects. Existing research has mainly focused on period trackers. Also, there is limited exploration of non-English contexts, such as China which is a key player in the femtech market. This article explored the gendered power dynamics within China’s femtech industry by conducting a systematic review of femtech apps available in Chinese app stores. Focusing on aspects of comprehensiveness, security, and credibility, the study reveals that most apps primarily define women as mothers rather than individuals with diverse health needs. While femtech apps claim to address health needs, many fail to offer scientifically validated information and adequate privacy protections. One-third of the apps mandate extensive data collection for nonfunctional purposes, with frequent data sharing with third parties without explicit users’ consent. Alarmingly, many apps allow children to use them, but they lack child-specific data protection measures. Developing the concept of patriarchal digitality, this article demonstrates how digital tools for women’s health are shaped by and contribute to broader mechanisms of social control. The study calls for more equitable data ownership to foster a more inclusive and empowering digital health landscape.
Journal article
2025-01-01T00:00:00+00:00
29
263 - 286
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