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In China, men are losing confidence and blaming women for it
A viral ‘gold-digger’ game and online misogyny reveal a deeper crisis of masculinity in China – one rooted not in feminism, but in decades of demographic and social change.
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The episode revealed a dangerous undercurrent in China’s escalating gender wars, where misogyny and insecurity intertwine.
PHOTO: AFP
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- Chinese women have progressed significantly since 1949, with laws promoting equality, yet face pressure to marry and bear children.
- Online gender battles reflect men's resentment, driven by materialism perceptions and skewed sex ratios from the one-child policy, as women assert independence.
- Despite challenges, women are reclaiming language to challenge patriarchal norms, signalling a necessary reckoning as gender roles evolve.
AI generated
When a Chinese developer released a video game in June focused on “defeating” women cast as gold-diggers
To some, the game was harmless revenge fantasy – a tongue-in-cheek guide against romance scams and a digital support group for men floundering in the search for love.
