Sheng Nü – 'Leftover Women' - The thin line between women independence and social disgrace 07-04-2012

The amusing, yet derogatory slang expression "sheng nü" puts Chinese women in a confusing limbo where they are left to ponder how to maintain a modern lifestyle without endangering social norms and tradition.

Guan er dai - 官二代 - A mixture of social unrest and corruption 10-03-2012
Many slang terms describe the instable social conditions in China, but 'guan erdai' is perhaps more than any of them causing unrest for Chinese politicians, as it keeps them under the suspicious eye of public discourse.
Konggui Zu: Youngsters' fear of returning home for the Chinese New Year as a natural response to traditional and popular values 21-01-2012
In days when everything is colored in red and traditional family values intertwine with commercial campaigns, stressing the importance of a happy New Year's family reunion, some young Chinese find it harder to make the shift between their daily life and the festive event. Spring Festival for them is an emotionally challenging period.
Breaking the 4-2-1: How does China react to the permission of a 'second child' for parents who are both singletons? 05-12-2011

A week ago, local government of Henan province has announced it is allowing couples where husband and wife are both singletons to give birth to the 'second child'. 30 Chinese provinces have begun implementing such policy before and with Henan completing the list. Officials, scholars and common people throughout China are analyzing the reasons behind this act and its intriguing possible outcomes.

70hou, 80hou, 90hou - The growing generation gap in China 07-11-2011

Great attention is given in China to the sharp differences between the 70hou (Chinese born in the 1970's), 80hou (Chinese born in the 1980's) and 90hou (Chinese born in the 1990's), as these stereotypes serve as a radar that reflects shifting values. The hard-working 70hou, the capitalist 80hou and the selfish 90hou are not only contrasting each other, but also evolving as we speak.

Yueguangzu - The face of a bitter-sweet modern reality 03-11-2011
It's hard to feel sorry for them since they clearly have money to spend, but the modern consumerism pressures experienced by them shouldn't be easily discounted. Meet the 'yueguangzu', Chinese that cannot keep their income safe in the bank.
Su Zizi 苏紫紫 - Lost daughter or strong woman? 17-10-2011

su_zizi_761The story of Su Zizi 苏紫紫 is a great source of debates about modern values, art, pornography and internet media.

The Dilemma of Quality Education in China 10-10-2011
Allowing kids to enjoy so-called liberal values of creativity or measuring one's abilities through stressful exams? China's education system is choosing to shift towards the first option, but when a child's 'quality' is called in question, aren't exams the only valid measurement?
Photographer Adrian Fisk talks about his iSpeak China project, focusing on the thoughts of young Chinese 21-09-2011
In an exclusive Thinking Chinese interview, UK photographer Adrian Fisk talks about iSpeak China: The idea behind it, interesting encounters and its acceptance. The project, through which Fisk wishes to promote the understanding of China, has also led to intriguing reactions within China, as discussed below.
Anquangan 安全感 – What women want, and other people as well... 16-09-2011
Anquangan (安全感 'sense of security') is a term that spans across physical security and well being to economic stability, as well as a broader sense of direction and prospect. Although its linguistic meaning is quite identical to the English counterpart ('sense of security'), in the socioeconomic reality of rapidly changing China, anquangan has a deeper and more emotionally-charged significance.
裸婚, Naked Marriage - Surrendering to romantic love, not anticipating a pink future 22-07-2011
裸= nude, 婚=marry; 'marrying naked', without money, an apartment or whatever necessities a new family requires... The 裸婚 luohun couples manage to promote romantic love, oppose some traditional concepts, while still avoid much of the criticism directed at the Chinese post-80s generation, as it is acknowledged that the conditions of 21st century China often do not provide them with better alternatives.
13-07-2011
While social changes are in their favor, some 21st century conditions actually add pressure on gay-female Chinese who wish to come out of the closet.
Where the youngest child becomes an emperor – Does filial piety exist in 21st century China? 21-03-2011
Reverse filial piety or maintaining the value of xiao in the only possible manner - What is a more accurate description to the spoiled, though full of high expectations, lifestyle many young Chinese experience? Although the 'little emperor' phenomenon would probably leave Confucius speechless, perhaps such conducts are in fact the only way to preserve filial piety under the conditions of modern Chinese society.
Filial Piety – Tradition, Social Stability and TV Rating 06-11-2010

Appreciating and supporting one's parents seems to be an emotional theme and an essential value, appearing frequently in the Chinese media and entertainment content. Why is filial piety such a concensus and how does the media and commercial TV use it for their own interests?

Linglei – The Possibility to Oppose the Mainstream 13-08-2010
The lìnglèi youth can be classified as 'alternative' to the mainstream Chinese culture and even 'rebellious', but their self expression is perhaps an opposition to the conditions in pre-1980 China and a celebration of new opportunities in present days, more than truly resisting a modern Chinese culture.
Shanhun 'Lightening-Speed-Marriages' – A Phenomenon which Keeps Divorce Rates on the Rise 12-08-2010
Early to marry, early to divorce - Many of China's young couples celebrate their love by rushing to marry, and become a traget of family and public criticism.
Chinese Singletons - Basic ‘Spoiled’ Related Vocabulary 25-07-2010
There are many interesting topic related to the new generations of China's single children 独生子女 (dúshēng zǐnǔ). Leaving a side the emotional pressure they experience and China's demographic concerns, here are some basic terms that describe the 'spoiled' character of Chinese singletons.
Fuerdai - The New Agents of Value Deterioration 21-05-2010
In China's popular discourse associates several moral and social problems with the fuerdai 富二代, the descendents of wealthy Chinese who became rich during the reform era. What is unique in the environment of the fuerdai that makes them the target of public criticism?
Preference of a Son - A tendency preserved mainly by women? 06-05-2010

While women's status in China is improving, in some households parents still prefer male offspring. More suprising is the fact that women who have experienced discrimination in the past and wish to create a different reality for their children, often, in fact, preserve the attitude of prefering a son over a daughter.



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