On December 3rd, the topic of “Is the Anxiety of Marriage and Love Getting Younger? Experts: Play the Leading Role of College Marriage and Love Education” was pushed to the trending list, sparking widespread discussions and questioning among netizens.
On the afternoon of December 2nd, the School of Public Administration of the South-Central University of Economics and Law published an article on the public account of the “China Population Report” supervised by the National Health Commission titled “Universities Should Play a Leading Role in Marriage and Love Education,” attracting attention on the internet.
The article mentioned that in a recent survey, 56.9% of university students said they are currently not interested in romantic relationships.
Experts in mainland China have previously raised the view that “marriage and love anxiety is becoming younger.”
The above topic trended on the hot search list, with netizens posting comments, some of which were mocking and satirical.
“DigiFan”: This is ridiculous! With job hunting being so difficult and competition so intense, instead of finding solutions to these issues, they prioritize young people dating in university. Do they think having a university experience of “dating” on a resume can provide advantages during job interviews?
“Dear Elder KK” joked: No marriage, no graduation certificate; commitment to have 5 children in 5 years for taking civil service exams or postgraduate exams, otherwise you will be fired directly.
“StrugglingWithTheName16”: Only singles shouldn’t get graduation certificates.
“Laborious27”: No marriage certificate, no university graduation certificate; for those married but without children, no job offer signing, no opportunity for further studies. This ensures marriage rates and increases the birth rate.
“StaringRainbow8”: Exchange the marriage certificate for a graduation certificate, then continue to exchange the birth certificate for a graduation certificate.
“CKJLYT”: The experts think that young people not getting married or having children is due to wrong relationships, but in reality, it’s because they can’t afford it.
“HandsomeBlack110” replied: The experts know that young people can’t afford to get married or have children, but they dare not say so upfront.
According to the statistics of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the Communist Party of China in the third quarter of 2024, there were 4.747 million couples registered for marriage in the first three quarters of this year, which is 943,000 fewer couples than the same period in 2023.
On December 28, 2023, the “China Population and Employment Statistics Yearbook 2023” showed that in the sample calculation of the “Marital Status of the Population Aged 15 and Above in China by Age and Gender,” the unmarried rate among the 25-29 age group was 51.3% in 2022, reaching 18.4% among the 30-34 age group, and 8% among the 35-39 age group.
Under a post from Sina News on Weibo, most netizens believe that the unmarried rate will continue to rise. Replies like “Is getting married really that important? Which one helps in contributing to the GDP – getting married or working hard?” and “Marriage only makes me poor and indebted. Why do I have to get married?” have received thousands of likes.
In today’s Chinese society, the lifestyle of young people has undergone drastic changes, with “lying flat” becoming a highly observed phenomenon. Many young people choose to “lie flat” and are unwilling to get married or have children.
The phenomenon of Chinese young people “lying flat” stems from three fundamental reasons: firstly, young people find it challenging to improve their social status even with hard work. Unequal distribution of wealth in society has widened the income gap, making young people feel unable to escape the pressures of life. Traditional life goals such as buying a house and getting married seem increasingly out of reach, and efforts appear to be futile.
Secondly, economic downturn leading to increased unemployment has prompted young people to rethink the process of being “praised to death” by capital. “Lying flat” has become a silent protest, expressing their rejection of the traditional consumerism model and a pursuit of a more independent and free lifestyle.
Lastly, changes in values and beliefs are the third fundamental reason for young people “lying flat.” Traditional concepts of life are gradually being overturned, with marriage and childbirth no longer seen as “must-do” obligations.