Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IN THE LAST few years, the phenomena of China’s “leftover women” — that is, women over the age of 28 who are unmarried — has become a hot topic amongst China and China-watchers.
But the fact is these so-called “leftover women” are probably an overhyped concern, perhaps driven by government worries about a more likely problem — leftover men, aka “bare branches”.
Yes, given a combination of China’s one-child policy and a traditional preference for sons, China may be looking at 12 to 15 per cent of its male population being unable to find a wife.
As Jessica Levine writes at Tea Leaf Nation, that many lonely, angry men are not good for anyone. Levine points to an academic article released last year by Quanbao Jiang & Jesús J. Sánchez-Barricarte, these bare branches aren’t just sad — they represent a danger to society.
The article, Bride price in China: the obstacle to ‘Bare Branches’ seeking marriage, explains how another factor in China — a traditional payment for brides referred to as a “bride price” — is causing problems for the “bare branches”.
Many “bare branches” are from poor and rural areas, and find it difficult to pay the “bride price”, making them a less attractive mate. In recent years, as the shortage of eligible females has become more pronounced, the “bride price” has gone up.
For “bare branches”, desperate times can lead to desperate measures. Jiang and Sánchez-Barricarte write:
Bachelorhood affects one’s physical health, psychology and behavior, and can ruin one’s life discipline. Bare branches will seek opportunities to marry in various ways, threatening social stability, and the stability of their families and communities, as well as menacing social order. This has become a serious problem that Chinese society, and its government, will sooner or later have to address.
As such, it may be a bit easier to understand why Chinese institutions seems to play into the “leftover women” narrative — it’s a lot less scary than the alternative.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I saw him in Starbucks yesterday.
@Dj: the montage is a bit stiff
@Dj: oh boy that cracked me up
@Dj: oh boy that cracked me up
@Paddy Lynn: I overhead him complaining to the manager that his coffee wasn’t expensive enough.
@Dj: But was he as clean and well groomed as our 16th Century Paddy or Olaf of George because for all we know he could have been a blow in or a left over.
@Dj: haha lol
Dubliners have not evolved!
@oliverjumelle: Surely perfection cannot be improved :)
@Ken Hayden: Paper bag Maybe.
Alri’ bud.
A Hipster.
Looks like a young Barney McKenna from the Dubliners.. all he is missing is the banjo and pint of plain
No changes really
In other words, looks exactly like a current member of the DUP.
@Niall Lonergan: ??
@Niall Lonergan: my eyes are watering lol
A beautiful specimen
Looks like the same software they used to put a picture to Jesus
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: Which one? https://art-soulworks.com/products/prince-of-peace-canvas-art-print
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: Except with Jesus they didn’t have a skull. They just had someone draw a picture of a Middle Eastern man.
@Derek Walsh: With blue eyes and blond highlights!
@DaisyChainsaw: Alexander the Great and the Greeks had a great influence over the Jews at one time, they nearly became Greek for a while and the name Yeshua has a Greek influence as that is Jesus’s real name, similar to Joshua…
the dude abides!
Not much diversity in the Irish gene pool thus far so but we know that’s changing.
Sadly that’s changing.
Nope…. no blue jersey…
Story bud head on him!
Ah heeaar , Leave ir out .
These snapchat face filters are getting better all the time.
It’s Mick Pyro and Chris O’Dowd’s love child.
Is that you Barry?
Typical Dub, Very territorial, thinks there’s a difference between ‘Northside’ and ‘Southside’.
Calls everyone from outside Dublin a ‘bogger’ yet The Bog of the Ring exists in Dublin.
@eastsmer #IRExit: Man o War is in Dublin too but we don’t go around in tight leather shorts singing about swords and sorcery.
Getting ready for winter thon lad
Anyone buyin or sellin ?
They bloody haven’t changed much. 16th century looks, 16th century attitudes !!
@Pat Butler: what is a 16th century attitude? Come up to Leo Burdocks. Get some salt and vinegar on that chip on your shoulder.
i wonder how the”Dublin man” would look in the 26th century any ideas??
Giz a pint of bud bud
Evolved Evolved enough to destroy westmeath
…still trying to pay off his mortgage
It bad at all!
Val Kilmer is that old. Wow !
@The Jacket haha the iceman’s let himself go! I’ll be your wingman any century
@Noel James Doherty: Lol Lol double of Kazanski !
Like a Viking then?
Looks like Liam Neeson
Why are facial reconstructions always cross-eyed?
Absolutely disagree…obviously from Mayo (cross-eyed can’t see goal post to score(hair style is a throw back to the Phoenicians of Tyre who set up canton in Castlebar….the squint in hiseye has obviously had work done on it witch proofs he was well heeled and he kept fit by climbing the reek (soil under his toe nails same as limestone found in Mayo and Clare….
Looks a bit too tanned
@Rui Firmino: the cheek of you saying that
No change then
what was the point of the exercise, did they expect any difference to ourselves seriously, 3 or 400 years doesn’t change facial or head characteristics, this is so general it could be any modern human.
have your say