Emotional Theft: A Trend Emerging In China
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5 May 2024
A new trend is emerging among young adults in China. The lifestyle is called "tou gan" which means "emotional theft"
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The lifestyle allows people to live in secret and purposefully "derail" their lives. This could entail couples choosing to live in separate rooms or never disclosing their income
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The term "tou gan" describes a reclusive way of living characterised by little acts of "resistance" against the norms of daily existence
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The believers, for instance, may decide to leave work early to defy the prevalent cultural norm of putting in extra hours
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A woman from southeastern China, a follower of this trend, says she never tells her parents how much she earns
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When her mother inquires about her pay even after six years of employment, she always responds that it is 13,000 yuan
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Since her mother values savings, the woman fears that any expense will seem excessive to her mother. Thus, she doesn't want her mother to know about spending habits
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Many followers of this practice also prefer small spaces, where they feel they have complete control of their lives
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One of the key components of "emotional theft" is the way of life that frequently involves giving much thought to what other people may think
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People following "emotional theft" as a practice are finding joy in the more mundane parts of life
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