This paper presents a multi-dimensional analysis of the Gong Lin incident, exploring the complex interweaving of power structures, emotional ethics, and sexual minority identities in teacher-student relationships in contemporary Chinese higher education. Drawing on Foucault’s theory of disciplinary power, Butler’s notion of gender performativity, and Bourdieu’s concept of capital, this study examines how individuals navigate emotional expression and identity within the constraints of institutional and societal norms. The analysis reveals that the incident represents not merely a case of professional misconduct, but a layered ethical dilemma shaped by systemic power imbalances. By conducting textual analysis and reviewing public discourse, this study offers a deeper understanding of the rupture between love, power, and social norms in China’s academic context.
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Han, H., Su, J. (2025) Between the Body and the Word: Reading Gendered Silence in Gong Lin. Journal of Social Development and History, 1(2), 5-13.