China's 'Leftover Women': A historical movement of self-reliance

In 19th and early 20th century China, a unique movement known as "Leftover Women" emerged, comprising women who defied traditional marriage expectations. These women vowed celibacy and formed communities to support themselves, rejecting the notion of becoming property within their husbands' families.

Today, China faces a significant demographic imbalance, with 239 million single individuals. Over half of those aged 25 to 35 are unmarried. The country has an excess of approximately 35 million unmarried men, referred to as "passive singles," while unmarried women are termed "sheng-nu," or "leftover women."

Many "leftover women" avoid rural areas due to traditional roles that often equate to servitude and treating women as property. Even in urban settings, educated women, who contribute significantly to China's economy, face pressure from parents to arrange "lucrative marriages."

Globally, women are increasingly contributing to economic growth. The World Economic Forum estimates that seven million highly educated Chinese women aged 25-35 are unmarried but are key drivers of China's economic miracle. They constitute nearly 70% of employees in major corporations in developed Chinese cities and contribute about 41% to China's GDP. China also boasts the highest number of self-made female billionaires worldwide, ahead of the US and UK, with these affluent women being major consumers of luxury goods.