Backlash as China husband kowtows to wife following birth of son after 3 daughters, praises her pain endurance in ‘fight for family’
- Husband thanks wife for risking life, gives her US$1,400 reward during labour
- Account attracts 67,000 followers, many critical, wife defends her man
A husband in China who knelt in front of his wife for giving birth to a son – after already producing three daughters – has been hit by an online backlash.
The unidentified man from Meizhou, Guangdong province, in southeastern China, shared a video of the moment on his Douyin account, along with the caption, “Shasha Couple (Announcing the birth of a Dragon son for the fourth child),” and attracted 67,000 followers.
The video shows his wife in a wheelchair, holding a bouquet of flowers, as her husband kneels down before embracing and kissing her. Moved by his gesture, she covers her face to wipe away tears.
“My wife is about to be discharged from the hospital, 9 months of pregnancy and labour, all the pain is borne by you alone,” the husband wrote.
“This is the fourth time you’ve risked your life for me. Thank you for making my life more complete. Three daughters and one son make up the Chinese word ‘good’. Wife, you’ve worked hard,” he continued.
However, the gesture drew criticism from online observers who argued that true love would not compel a woman to risk her health and endure painful childbirth repeatedly just so a man could have a son.