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Chen Chen, Chiang Mai University, ThailandAbstract
Discussions about ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) have increased significantly on Chinese digital platforms in recent years, interestingly with female users showing far more interest than males. However, the prevailing perception of ADHD in China remains largely limited to mischievous young boys, and ADHD research continues to focus primarily on the medical aspects, And it doesn't pay extra attention to women. This study addresses this phenomenon, employing the theoretical framework of “situated knowledge” (Haraway) and “everyday practices” (De Certeau) to analyze how contemporary Chinese discourse on ADHD has been formed, and how ADHD as situated knowledge plays a role in Chinese women's negotiation of daily life. This study uses qualitative research methods, analyzing numerous posts on digital platforms by women who claim to have been diagnosed with ADHD, discussing lifestyles related to ADHD. It also incorporates semi-structured interviews and participant observation as qualitative fieldwork case studies to explore how contemporary Chinese cultural traditions, competing medical frameworks, and digital platform regulation intertwine and influence gender expectations. This paper finds that ADHD functions not only as a medical concept within a psychiatric framework but also as a discourse through which some women reinterpret their feelings of fatigue, helplessness, emotional distress, and social expectations. While limited, it also offers possibilities for negotiation in everyday life.
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