In Zhejiang province, China, a woman known as @jiawensishi, or “rat person,” is living a seemingly idle yet content life by embracing a trend of rejecting traditional notions of success and ambition. This so-called “rat people” movement, akin to the previous “lying flat” trend, involves individuals opting out of societal pressures to constantly strive for career advancement and instead focusing on simple pleasures like eating, sleeping, and scrolling. Interestingly, Chinese students studying abroad in the UK are highlighted as prime examples of rat people, choosing to isolate themselves to conserve energy in the face of challenging environments.
Despite the anti-hustle culture sentiment behind the rat people movement, there is a paradoxical trend of commercialization emerging. The movement’s unofficial mascot, Big Rat, has been monetized through merchandise sales, and influencers are leveraging the concept to promote products like skincare. This commercialization hints at the pervasive nature of capitalism, even among those attempting to resist its pressures. The satirical notion of a future “RatCoin” currency humorously emphasizes the ever-present influence of capitalism, even in the most unconventional lifestyles.
Overall, the rat people phenomenon in China reflects a broader societal shift towards questioning traditional measures of success and embracing a simpler, more leisurely way of life, albeit in a world where capitalism continues to find ways to capitalize on even the most anti-establishment movements.
