Diaosi [Underdog Talk] as a way of relating in contemporary China

This chapter examines diaosi (屌丝/吊丝/钓丝) as a way of relating in contemporary China. The closest English equivalent would be loser or underdog, indicating a continuum of meanings, from being the maker of one’s life circumstances to being shaped by social, political, and economic conditions. Diaosi has become a popular way of relating among young Chinese since 2011 and is associated with social phenomena related to class, gender, digital communication, and consumption. This chapter discusses how diaosi is a constitutive term and communicative practice that engages people in social grouping.