The Impact of Social Media on Gender Expression: High Heels as a Gender Symbol

In the digital age, social media has dramatically reshaped how individuals explore and express their gender identity. Platforms like TikTok, Xiaohongshu, and Instagram have given rise to more diverse, creative, and sometimes controversial representations of gender. Among the many fashion items tied to gender, high heels have long been associated with femininity. However, they are increasingly being used across a wide spectrum of identities, from cisgender men to non-binary individuals, as a symbol of expression, rebellion, and authenticity. This paper explores how high heels have been reclaimed on social media as tools of gender performance. Through discourse analysis, online surveys, and in-depth interviews with users from Singapore and mainland China, this study reveals how platforms function not just as arenas for fashion but as battlegrounds of gender politics. It argues that while social media is not free from judgment or discrimination, it offers unique opportunities for self-expression, visibility, and cultural resistance, especially for youth navigating identity in a changing world.