Instead of even trying to chase jobs that seem out of reach, Gen Z is embracing living like a rat—not showering or leaving the house for days at a time.
The millennial era of “work hard, play harder” and “girl bossing” has given way to a new trend. In China, at least, Gen Zers are proudly calling themselves “rat people”—they’re spending entire days procrastinating in bed, scrolling on their phones, snoozing and ordering take out.
I think it has something to do with “giving up” on the economy: if you have very low chances of landing a job anyways, why even try?
The article does not directly tell us how many people participate in this movement consciously. It does hint, however:
Today, over 4 million American Gen Zers remain jobless. In China, the government has said that as of February, 1 in 6 young people are unemployed.
The rat seems to be their equivalent totem to the raccoon/opossum
the gutterpunk peoples speak of this as a sign
You sure it’s not just depression?
If it is, staying in a dark house and not exercising is definitely not what one wants to do.
I’m sorry, but Millennials or Genz did not invent quiet quitting. The media made it up to describe just doing your damn job
holy fuck i want to spend days in bed
Hard not to sympathize. World is fucked.
Solidarity with rats worldwide
Today, over 4 million American Gen Zers remain jobless. In China, the government has said that as of February, 1 in 6 young people are unemployed.
I hate mixed comparisons…
There’s about 69 million (nice) Gen Z in America.
So America = 5.7%
China = 16.6%
Are those 69 million all adults/working age already?
For full context it might also be useful to see the unemployment rates in other age groups in both countries.
Gen Z are all 18+ now, and it’s a safe assumption neither number includes students
Most definitions I find define Gen Z as early 2010s or 2012 as the end year which would make plenty of them underage still.
Isn’t there the japanese thing “lay flat” where it’s just about surviving and not excelling in life
I would be surprised if there was not
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping
It’s Chinese, seemingly
Slow news day?
I mean if I lived in China I’d give up too, or worse. Seems very sad to be there
How do you have a house or eat if you don’t have a job?
living with their family and hoping that food stays cheap, i guess
So how do they keep a roof, four walls and food?
communism
That’s not the right answer. You’d think someone from lemmy.ml would know a bit more about this topic…
I can get behind this. Overthrow your country’s oppressive working conditions by simply refusing to engage and proudly calling yourself a rat. Everyone in capitalist hellscapes should do that.
thanks for that :D
how can you afford staying in bed scrolling on phone and ordering takeouts? rent, electric, phone, gas bills? is it because their boomer parents have one child and pay everything for them even when they grow up?
wondering this as well
If only all the rats of the world combined into an unruly rat king… Then things would change.
Master Splinter?