SIXTH TONE - July 20 - Matchmaking in China makes parents feel anxious. It is becoming evident that Chinese society has failed to prepare for its own rapidly aging population. Public services rarely cater to the needs of the elderly, and many retired Chinese become marginal members of society. In this context, elderly Chinese men and women have turned to matchmaking to find a partner for their children. Matchmaking has become a source of controversy, as it relies on a cruel hierarchy loaded with prejudice and contempt. Those who find themselves at the top of this hierarchy are usually white-collar workers with a car, a house near the center of town, and a monthly income in excess of 20,000 yuan for women or 50,000 yuan for men ($3K or $7K, respectively). Men who hold doctoral degrees sit at the top of the food chain, while women who are just as educated often sit at the bottom. Also at the bottom are women born in the Year of the Sheep. This is because many elderly people believe that these women suffer misfortune in their family lives, ending up childless or widowed. The overwhelming majority of young Chinese people disapprove of this hierarchy.
by Zeng Yuli
See full article at Sixth Tone
Summarized by the Courtland Brooks team
| |
Comments