Source: Global Times
Singapore's "Straits Times" February 28 article, original title: China is facing "soft men" to harden Whenever you see a star on TV or billboards who are "neither male nor female", the 5-year-old son of Xiong Xiao, a business owner in the education industry, will ask "Why do boys still wear makeup?" Or "Are they male or female?" These questions worry the bear. She is worried that her son will be affected by "small fresh meat", and she is even more worried that her daughter will bring such a boyfriend home in the future. The bear encouraged his son to climb trees in the backyard and learn to use tools to do his own work, and let him watch military videos.
The phenomenon of "small fresh meat" has long sparked controversy about China's "manhood crisis", with parents and educators calling for Chinese boys to be strong. Recently, when China's education department issued a notice urging schools to cultivate "masculinity" by strengthening physical education, the controversy once again surfaced.
Some scholars say that China's anxiety about the "manhood crisis" has a long history, and there are concerns that Chinese men appear weak and feminine compared to Western and Japanese men. And the recent opposition to feminine winds may have more official context, reflecting the government's concerns about showing the world the right image of Chinese men in line with China's rise.
Chinese agencies have asked TV channels to mosaic images of male stars' stud earrings, another action by which "gender stereotypes" have sparked a strong debate on social media. Some parents also spend money to send their children to (little man) training camps. Scholars attribute the "feminization" of Chinese men to social change. Others blame this on the one-child policy that has spawned overdose. Traditional Chinese medicine blames junk food that causes boys to become weak and feminine.
Authorities and state media have tried their best to promote the image of "tough guys," but they have faced fierce battles from commercial forces. China's men's cosmetics market has grown at an average annual rate of 13.5% in recent years, far exceeding the global average of 5.8%. "Small fresh meat" is popular with the younger generation, especially young women. Many businesses asked them to endorse them. Such phenomena are market-driven but not welcomed by governments and others. (Translated by Tan Dawn Wei and Cui Xiaodong)