this post was submitted on 15 May 2024
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As a Chinese person, I can share my own observations from both online and real life:
LGBTQ+ There is almost no public promotion of LGBTQ+ issues in China. LGBTQ+ individuals are not considered a mainstream group, and most people are indifferent to them. Online, many references to LGBTQ+ are just jokes or memes meant to entertain, not necessarily to mock the community. For instance, phrases like "Bro, you smell so good" are popular online jokes. In real life, if you are part of the LGBTQ+ community, it doesn't really matter to most people; everyone has their own life. However, if LGBTQ+ individuals try to date heterosexuals, it usually leads to discomfort. If a child wants to identify as LGBTQ+, it depends on their parents, and most parents do not approve. Also, since LGBTQ+ concepts are seen as coming from Western countries, some LGBTQ+ individuals who are perceived as overly admiring Western culture can face backlash. Chinese public opinion generally acknowledges heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality, but concepts like "72 genders" and "gender fluidity" are seen as incomprehensible. Phrases like "My gender is an attack helicopter, and I want to screw a tank" are commonly used to mock the plethora of gender identities in the West.
Women's Rights As a socialist country, women's rights are well-protected in China. Prostitution is illegal (to combat human trafficking). In stable government jobs, women make up a large proportion. However, there are some peculiarities: women have maternity leave, and some declare pregnancy right after being hired to receive paid maternity leave and then resign afterward. In government jobs, some women may claim they cannot handle the workload and pass their responsibilities to male colleagues or other female colleagues, leading to a form of hidden hiring discrimination in some companies and government units.
Anti-Racism Chinese people generally focus on a person's actions rather than their race. Discrimination tends to be based on an individual's behavior, regardless of skin color or ethnicity. Ethnic minorities in China receive preferential treatment, with special funds to promote their traditional cultures and extra points on college entrance exams. However, as the economic conditions of some minorities have become comparable to the Han majority, places like Shandong are considering abolishing these extra points. Ethnic minorities like Tibetans and Mongolians also have the option to take their college entrance exams in their native languages. During my university years, Mongolian students often joked that they didn’t ride horses to school.
Respect for Youth and the Elderly I don't quite understand the concept of "respecting the youth." Is it similar to bowing to someone in Japan? In China, as the birthplace of Confucianism, respecting the elderly and caring for the young are considered traditional virtues and are commonly practiced in daily life. However, due to the "Peng Yu case," where a judge asked, "If you didn't knock the old person down, why did you help them up?" many people are now wary of helping fallen elderly individuals for fear of being extorted (which has happened multiple times). Such extortionists are referred to as "taking advantage of their old age."
I think "respecting the youth" is trying to figure out how the older generations view the younger generations.
In the USA, there is a pretty strong current of "anybody younger than me" is always inferior, lesser, worse. So a younger person's opinion is attacked or ignored by someone who is older no matter how correct a younger person's opinion may be.
It could be understood as, "When do the the older generations accept the younger generations as a peer?" or "When do the younger generations become accepted by the older generations as an equal?"
In China, there is an old saying used by the elderly to criticize the young: "I have eaten more salt than you have eaten rice." Nowadays, young people respond to stubborn elders with, "Old thing, you should have blown up your gold coins by now."“老东西，早该爆金币了” .It's like defeating a boss and getting loot.Some older people are still reasonable, and there is a consensus in China that young people are considered "energetic," "the future of China," and "the sun at eight or nine in the morning."
In modern Chinese history, young people were the main force in revolutions. During the New Culture Movement, young Chinese fought against the rigid and dogmatic elders who adhered to "ancient teachings" and "ancestral laws." In the May Fourth Movement, students mobilized workers and the petty bourgeoisie to prevent further colonial infringement on China's sovereignty (such as the transfer of Shandong from Germany to Japan, even though China was considered a victor in World War I).《少年中国说》 "The Young China" essay from the New Culture Movement is something every Chinese middle school student learns. Publicly belittling young people can only happen in small circles; on the internet and in real life, such behavior will be ridiculed.
If we look at it from a family perspective, unfortunately, most Chinese people believe that children should listen to their parents. Of course, extreme control over children is also criticized in China. How important a child's personal thoughts are depends on the parents.
If you are referring to expressing political views, people may criticize each other based on differing political opinions, but they won't discriminate against you just because you are young, and there are no special privileges either.
In terms of politics, in China, one must start from the grassroots level to enter politics. Even if you have connections, it can only speed up your promotion slightly (if too fast, unless you are very capable, you will be reported to the discipline inspection commission as there is no shortage of competitors in officialdom). Therefore, many Chinese politicians are already middle-aged or elderly because people generally believe they have more experience and stability.
You might want to look at 《风波》"The Gale" from Lu Xun's 《呐喊》"Call to Arms" during the New Culture Movement, which might be similar to what you mentioned.
I have no real input in this discussion other than reading it and being fascinated. I just wanted to say that I love the phrase: the sun at eight or nine in the morning.