The paradox of ‘positive energy’ (zheng nengliang): the complex affective realities of people with hearing impairments in china’s service industry

Abstract

This study focuses on ‘positive energy’ (zheng nengliang), which has become a hegemonic discourse in contemporary China, to explain a possible new affective way of governing in China. Specifically, it targets the complex, ambiguous, and paradoxical affective practices of people with disabilities to examine why and how the catchphrase of ‘positive energy’ has become influential for employees with hearing impairments in China’s service industry. Using participant observation and in-depth interviews, this study demonstrates the paradox between the positive structure of feeling and the ‘cruel’ reality of people with hearing impairments. It also analyzes how the dominant ‘positive energy’ discourse impacts the employment opportunities and psychology of people with hearing impairments and why the positive structure of feeling among people with hearing impairments may paradoxically lead them to have a precarious and uncertain future.

Points of interest

• ‘Positive energy’ is a term appropriated and used by the Chinese government to encourage people with disabilities to rely on themselves rather than on government support.

• ‘Positive energy’ can be used to describe anything good, as well as any uplifting power and emotion that represents hope, optimism, and happiness.

• However, ‘positive energy’ has also been shown to trigger negativity, avoidance, and resistance among those subject to its influences.

• This article explores how China’s dominant discourse of ‘positive energy’ impacts on people with hearing impairments.

• We argue that the affective discourses with complex meanings may actually form an obstacle to their flourishing in practice.

Keywords:

• Affective practice
• China
• hearing impairment
• disability
• positive energy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research has been supported by the Research Grant of China Disabled Persons’ Federation (Grant No.: 23&ZZ020).