Moths to the Flame: Delivery Workers’ Pursuit of Masculinity

Through participant observations of 485 delivery workers in five cities in the Yangtze Delta Region, China, this paper examines how they navigate and express masculinity within the food delivery industry. Initially drawn by the promise of autonomy, these rural-urban migrants face challenges to their masculine identity, especially due to the precarious nature of their work and fear of negative customer feedback. The study uncovers how, despite these pressures, delivery workers assert their masculinity by engaging with the urban environment and challenging institutional constraints, thereby constructing a heroic masculine ideal amidst increased physical risks and livelihood uncertainties.