‘Flirtatious’ US$2,500 photo shoots for ‘lonely’ middle-aged women spark backlash in China

A Chinese photographer is facing fierce public backlash for charging middle-aged women inflated fees while allegedly subjecting them to sexually suggestive remarks during photo shoots.

Known online as “Duan Gongzi,” 48-year-old army veteran Duan Xiaozhou has amassed nearly 400,000 followers on Douyin. At his Wuhan studio, he charges 16,800 yuan (US$2,500) for 36 unedited portraits.

Duan promotes his sessions as empathetic exchanges intended to capture clients’ authentic selves. But behind-the-scenes footage shows him making sexually suggestive remarks throughout the shoots.

In one clip, Duan tells a client that covering her chest too much makes her look “like a brother,” then adds: “What are you hiding it for?”

To another client, he quips: “I did a psychic reading – you are wearing white bra today.”

When a middle-aged woman smooths her dress, Duan teases: “Stop fiddling with it. Pulling at any spot looks like an attempt to seduce.”

After another woman confesses she has travelled hundreds of miles just to be photographed by him, he smirks: “Why are you so obedient?”

He even tells one client: “You are making me drool here. It feels like I can barely pump the brakes.”

Despite his steep prices and questionable conduct, Duan’s business has boomed.

At a recent offline fan meeting in Wuhan, devotees hailed him as an “elegant, cultured gentleman” who embodies “traditional male charm.”

Younger generations, however, have voiced alarm in online comments. Some observers argue that his behaviour borders on sexual harassment disguised as charm.

“True respect makes someone feel safe and dignified, not flustered,” one widely shared critique noted.

Others expressed sympathy for the clients, saying that women who lack validation in traditional marriages may be particularly vulnerable to flattery.

The controversy highlights the formidable economic clout of China’s older generation.

The country’s “silver economy” is worth roughly 7 trillion yuan (US$1.05 trillion), with spending increasingly shifting towards e-commerce and lifestyle experiences such as travel and leisure, according to New China Elderly Care Weekly.

Yet the psychological needs of older consumers remain largely underserved.

After spending decades shouldering heavy domestic responsibilities in patriarchal households where self-expression was discouraged, many middle-aged women in China are now finding their personal aspirations stirred by a growing awareness of women’s rights.

The resulting desire for attention and validation has created an emotional void that some online creators are eager to monetise.

Duan is hardly alone. Across mainland social media platforms, male live-streamers and even AI personas are cashing in on the loneliness of middle-aged and elderly women.

In October, AI-generated “tragic boys” – digital avatars recounting tales of hardship – went viral, drawing sympathetic middle-aged women into making purchases.

In 2023, a 39-year-old man known as “Xiucai” attracted more than 10 million followers with flirtatious lip-sync videos. Media outlets reported that one Beijing fan tipped him more than 500,000 yuan (US$75,000) online before unsuccessfully trying to meet him in person.