In years gone by it was common for Arab tribes to strengthen the bloodline by attacking rival groups and making off with their women. It was also Genghis Khan’s strategy as he sought to make Mongolia a world power (of sorts), kill the men – keep the women. These women could become highly prized brides and treasured wives, but more often than not they were for one purpose – brood mares.
If current trends continue the Chinese chap may need a gold medal in order to get a date.
One of the major concerns facing the Chinese man (and in fact men from many Asian nations) is the shortage of women. From the one child policy to sexually selective abortion, women in Asia are becoming severely outnumbered by men. In China this is because sons are expected to support their families in later life, and daughters are expected to leave home and look after their new husband’s family. The one child policy thus provides a great incentive to produce male children, as there are no second chances available to many Chinese families.
However, this leaves a serious problem in its wake. In the next generation of Chinese men there will be 10’s of millions who will be unable to find a partner. Is it possible that the next world war will not be for water or oil but for women?
I think it’s unlikely but there is already strong evidence that Chinese men are getting desperate. There have reports of human trafficking with women being snatched from poorer neighbouring countries (in particular North Korea where it is highly likely that this trafficking is being sanctioned from Pyongyang) and dragged into China for forced marriages to lonely men.
That better not be what I think it is young man, or it’s coming off…
In this theme, I’d like to explore the possible effects of the gender gap on Chinese culture and also some extreme scenarios that may offer solutions to the social issues that will arise. Unlike many of my other themes, much of this will be purely speculative – some of these scenarios are very unlikely to ever be accepted or promoted, others… well, who knows?
I’m back in writing mode now and I’m looking forward to picking up several themes again this month, I’ll be back on the Chinese economy as well as moving forward with the virtual tour. Apologies for the break in service, but it was a necessity rather than a whim. I’m back.
I’m also going to be launching another blog later this month, which will be called Bobbing For Words – it’s not going to be as focused as Shards, it’s intended to be a portfolio piece for my writing as well as offer hints, tips, etc. for new writers (and inform and educate potential clients).
Shards of China 
Will look forward to this post. One thing I noticed during my time living in China was that not only is there is a shortage of gals, but the men had really had standards and expectations as if they were all Don Juan’s….
You’d have these beautiful single women with no boyfriends and I would ask guys about her and they would all have some sort of excuse – not pretty, not a good family, etc…
Not only is the shortage an issue, but the men have to find a woman that will give them face, give their families face, they have to have their family’s approval, their towns approval, she has to be from such and such area, etc.. It’s an effect of the “Little Emperor” complex where everything has to line up just right..just for them….
Interestingly “The Little Emperor” syndrome is something I’m going to talk about in the next post in this series. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Sounds like a fascinating theme! I am looking forward!
Thanks Nicole. 🙂
Intriguing. Would love to hear more. Since I grew up in the States my parents werent as affected by the One Child Policy, but almost all of my cousins are male. I didn’t realize that the shortage in girls might turn out to have major implications for the future. Looking forward to learning more!
Thank you. 🙂 I think this is one of those interesting areas that people haven’t been paying attention to that’s going to become a really big deal over the next decade.
Good to have you back! The new theme – a huge problem in India as well – and the blog sound very interesting.
Thanks Madhu. 🙂 I hope you enjoy it.
Look forward to reading the blogs
Great, thanks for commenting. 🙂
I’m really looking forward to reading your theories on this issue of China’s gender crisis as I’ve been wondering too and thinking of its impact from such policies on the Chinese culture and social aspects over the next few decades. Sharon
It’s not so much theories, I’m pretty certain as to how it will pan out – given the cultural restraints but it’s going to be a bit of fun to play with what could happen – in a good and bad way. 🙂
I have found your blog really interesting. I look forward to dropping in and reading you! Therefore I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you. http://marionretires.wordpress.com/
Thank you very much Marion, it’s an honour and a privilege to be recognised by a fellow blogger. It’s very much appreciated. I’d encourage other people to have a look at Marion’s blog it’s rather excellent too. 🙂
Maybe it’s just me, but I think a Chinese guy with “credentials” – the car, the good job, the house – will still snag many willing ladies. But this of course causes a greater gender crisis, in that ladies who want guys with creds isn’t going to look at a poor farmer in Harbin as a future mate.
I think that’s definitely something that I’ll be exploring in this series. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Interesting topic-i can see some similarities with Vietnam there. Well, very true for almost every Asian country.
It’s worse in Guangdong: http://www.economist.com/node/18988926, though I have to say that from where I’m sitting there seems to be tons of women. Men are ridiculously picky, though, I despair at the guys in my university – often charmless, not anything much to look at, lazy – but there expectations about what their eventual partners should be like seem to have little bearing on reality. Well, maybe the reality I subscribe to that is.
Apologies for typos: ‘worst,’ ‘their.’