China’s younger generation is certifying photos of them coming to work in “unfit clothes” such as character pajamas and knee-length socks on social media. A video clip of a young woman wearing fur pants, slippers, a pink top, brown Uggs, red gloves and a black mask covering her entire face was uploaded on Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media. The woman said in the video that she criticized her boss for saying that she was disgusted by my clothes and told her to mind what she was wearing to protect the company’s image. A considerable number of Internet users then supported the woman. The reason is that she has to pay attention to her clothes even though she has a lot of work and a small salary. In fact, the video clip has been shared more than 1.4 million times. Recently, a culture of young Chinese people wearing “gross outfits” to work has become popular.
“The more clothes that don’t match the existing clothes for work, the more favorable they are,” he said. “The younger Chinese people are expressing their dissatisfaction with low pay and frequent overtime through a kind of deliberate self-deprecation.” Analysts say that as opportunities are reduced due to slowing growth, they are refusing to live a life where they are trying hard to get ahead or get promoted. “I was criticized for clothes by my boss, but I ignored the request,” a Hangzhou office worker said. “I am tired of unpredictable lockdowns and quarantines during COVID-19. I want a peaceful life rather than promotion and success.” “Times have changed,” said Xiao Xueping, a psychologist in Beijing. “It is because young people grew up in a relatively more inclusive environment than previous generations and learned to put their emotions first.” “They are still doing their job, and their clothes for work can be seen as a form of ‘responsible protest,” he said.
SOPHIA KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
