The 36-year-old unnamed woman, who lives alone at her home in Dalian, a city in China’s Liaoning Province, said she would rather live alone and be independent than commit to a relationship for the sake of marriage. In a video posted by Star Video, the woman says she doesn’t believe “marriage is a guaranteed utopia or haven,” adding that while marriage can provide stability and a home, it can also lead to less freedom. “I think nowadays women no longer live in the age of being dependent on men for marriage, so I find a way to live my life,” she says. More from NextShark: Little panda Xiao Qi Ji’s incredibly fun snow day video is unbearably cute The woman shows her calm and slow lifestyle in the video, lounging in her pajamas around her house and cooking meals that she likes. Her story has reportedly garnered over 270,000 views and more than 27,000 comments from social media users. Marriage at a certain age is a cultural norm in China. When a woman remains unmarried after the age of 27, she is usually labeled a “sheng nu” or “remaining woman,” a derogatory term used to describe single women. The woman in the video is just one of many women in China who are resisting pressure to marry. According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, the number of Chinese people who chose to remain single fell by 41% from 23.8 million in 2013 to 13.9 million in 2019. More from NextShark: One-person Japanese ramen pot that keeps soup hot while you eat from it Although the Chinese government banned arranged marriages when it passed the New Marriage Law in 1950, the practice remains common in China today, with parents forcing their adult children into marriage. Some parents even post ads on the “marriage market”. Several social media users applauded the woman in the video for her independence. “I don’t judge her choice as she is free to make her own decisions, but I support her to live for herself,” one user wrote, according to the South China Morning Post. The story continues Others, however, disagreed with her life choices. More from NextShark: China calls on Sweden to respect Muslim religious beliefs over Koran burning incident “What will he do when he grows up? She won’t find anyone to keep her company,” one user reportedly wrote. “She’s selfish. If many people thought like her, where would the next generations come from?’ another user reportedly commented. Featured image via Bilibili More from NextShark: Amigurumi artist’s human-sized Totoro plush delights Studio Ghibli fans — learn how to make your own
