The Untold Truth Behind China’s “Leftover Women” Stigma That Shattered Her Mom’s Matchmaking Plans
Chinese newspapers, magazines, and television programs frequently portrayed sheng nü as women who had become educated, career-focused, self-dependent, and more selective in finding husbands than the culture was used to.
With early-age marriage being prevalent in China’s past, until 2005, only 2% of women aged between 30 and 34 were single, according to the national census. In contrast, in 2010, 7.4% of them were unmarried.
The census also said the average age of first marriage rose from 24.89 in 2010 to 28.67 in 2020, and has continued to rise since. A 2021 Youth League survey of some 2,900 unmarried urban young people found that 44% of women do not plan to marry.
But the statistics do not always reflect the worries the label’s potential disrepute brings.
In a 2013 survey of 900 female university graduates across 17 Chinese universities, approximately 70% of those surveyed said “their greatest fear” was becoming a sheng nü woman.
“Walk at your pace.” Netizens showered support on Linglong Chen as she opened up on cultural pressure for marriage
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