Narrative characteristics of women with infertility on social media: a case study of Rednote

With the rise of digital media, social platforms such as Rednote (Xiaohongshu) have emerged as critical arenas for infertility patients to reconstruct illness perceptions, seek emotional compensation and reclaim their subjectivity. This study identifies the emergence of an 'affective folk knowledge system' through fragmented digital records. Rather than reflecting objective clinical deficiencies, these grass roots narratives highlight a specific perceived gap in psychosocial support from the patients' subjective perspective. Furthermore, the structural absence of male partners in these narratives underscores a deep-seated gender-role dilemma, where women continue to bear a disproportionate physical and psychological burden. The findings suggest that patient-generated online narratives should serve as a valuable supplementary tool for clinical practice. They provide doctors with insights into the deeply personal, emotional dimensions of infertility. Ultimately, the study highlights how women navigate the bias of 'feminized reproductive responsibility' by building peer solidarity, safeguarding their psychological integrity within the digital landscape.