ExplainerChina youth embrace independent approach to dating – ‘suicidal singleness’ and ‘single love’ – to avoid risks of romance
- Reject emotion-loaded ‘love brain’ phenomenon, find flirting disgusting
- Changing attitudes reflected in growth of China’s single population, reticence about tying knot
Young people in China are increasingly adopting new approaches to dating and relationships, largely due to societal changes and how they impact life for the individual.
One of these is what has become known as the “single love” strategy.
Its adherents believe that the spiritual and financial independence of an individual is more important, and practical than wasting time on emotion-charged issues shaped by traditional notions of romance and love.
In other words, look after yourself and the rest will take care of itself.
This attitude echoes another approach known as “suicidal singleness”, in which people do not date and remain alone even when they have feelings for someone.
These stand-offish takes on romantic involvement could go some way to explaining China’s growing population of single people, which hit a record 239 million in 2021.