Motherhood and Endometriosis in China: Social Support for Women’s Reproductive Health through Online Communities

Lingwei Shao
In: Australian Feminist Studies · 2025 · vol. 40(124-125) , pp. 143–160 · doi:10.1080/08164649.2025.2502036 · W4410156441
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This paper examines how Chinese women with endometriosis utilize online communities for social support related to their reproductive health.

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This qualitative study examined how Chinese women with endometriosis utilize online self-help groups to exchange informational, emotional, and identity-based social support. Through participant observation and interviews with fifteen members, the research found that while these digital communities fostered connection and self-acceptance, they did not provide patients with full control over their reproductive choices. Instead, interactions within these spaces often reinforced traditional gender norms, which solidified anxieties about fertility and the challenges of motherhood for these individuals. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — specifically focusing on the psychosocial experiences and community dynamics of affected women in China.

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ABSTRACT Endometriosis affects roughly 10 percent of women of reproductive age worldwide and may contribute to infertility. Women with endometriosis have compromised childbearing abilities and have become targets of stigmatisation. The rise of online communities has provided patients with alternative access to share social support compared to traditional offline support. This study examined how Chinese women with endometriosis exchanged social support within online communities and further explored whether their participation has enhanced their sense of empowerment. By conducting participant observation of an online self-help group and in-depth interviews with 15 members, the findings revealed that Chinese women with endometriosis exchanged informational, emotional, and identity support. The social support received from the online communities empowered patients by fostering a sense of connection, self-reassurance, and self-acceptance. However, the study also found that Chinese women with endometriosis did not experience full control over their reproductive choices. Instead, social support messages reinforced their beliefs about traditional gender roles and norms, which in turn solidified their concerns about fertility and heightened their anxieties regarding the challenges of becoming a mother. Disclosure Statement No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s). Additional information Funding Notes on contributors Lingwei Shao Lingwei Shao is a lecturer at the School of Journalism and Communication, Communication University of Zhejiang, China. She earned her Ph.D. in journalism and communication from Zhejiang University, China. Her research interests include popular culture, gender studies, and audience studies.

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endometriosis

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