Chinese female star Nineone Photo: Sina Weibo

Chinese female rapper Nineone became the center of controversy after a speech she gave at a music festival recently sparked discussion about the role of women in today's society on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo. While some extremists called her a "manlover" for suggesting that "women wreck men's dreams," other netizens showed her support and reflected on the give-and-take nature of romantic relationships. 

During a halftime break her music performance, the rapper expressed the opinion that women in general should show more understanding and tolerance toward men by saying that "many boys dream of becoming footballers or video game players, but after 18, all their dreams become buying a house and a car." 

Her words instantly hit the nerve of some sensitive netizens, who said that the rapper was implying that many women's "basic" requirements for a man today - to own property and a car - were a "root evil" that kills men's personal pursuits and puts them under massive pressure. 

"Does society not give women any pressure? Where do words such as "leftover woman' come from?" a netizen posted on Sina Weibo criticizing Nineone. Similar comments continued to increase in number, leading to the rapper issuing a statement on Thursday saying she had not made a mistake and that she will not take back what she said. 

Nineone's assertive reply also inspired another large group of netizens to rush to her defense, saying that the star's words were horribly misinterpreted. Some others showed support by sharing their own experiences in dealing with the give-and-take in relationships with their loved ones. 

"To ask my boyfriend for something makes me feel like I am disabled. It is like a type of disease, I hate it. I'd rather be the 'provider' and, like she said, understand my boyfriend's real situation and let him be. Being able to support him gives me confidence and makes me a charming person in our relationship," Li, a 26-year-old woman, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

"I don't think those attacking her online and calling themselves 'feminists' are real feminists. If equality between men and women is the perpetual issue we discuss in   feminist discourse, then how can a woman claim herself to be equal to the man in the first place if she already took something from the opposite sex? I mean a feminist victory would be that a couple both fight and contribute to their future and the woman actually does better," Yun, a 34-year-old expert in feminist issues in Beijing, told the Global Times on Sunday.