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.
Hard not to sympathize. World is fucked.
Solidarity with rats worldwide
The millennial era of “work hard, play harder”
I hate to be that guy that calls everything Orwellian, but this is NOT how Fortune was describing Millenials 15 years ago
Yeah wtf is that? I’m a fucking burnout who is so lazy my hair is just a matted mess and has been for like a month
Ah, yes, the rhetoric ‘grind culture’ disguising working three jobs just to eat and sleep in conditions that are semi-humane. But being scolded and scorned for never being able to buy a house because we like avocado toast. Working so hard, but never working enough in the same breath.
It was never about the fucking toast. ‘Goblin mode’ and ‘adulting’ and ‘gamer shut-in’ and ‘NEET’ was never about being lazy. It was always about painting out the propaganda to guilt us into not meeting the model of expectation instead of our elders accepting blame. Maybe, hear me out, they should open their eyes and see that we’re living in a level of poverty so hilariously deep that not even our kids–Gen Z and Gen Alpha–will be able to dig it out.
They’re not giving up because they’re lazy. They’re opting out of a system designed to fail.
15 years ago millennials were cast in the generic framework of lazy younger generation. Now we have hindsight for them to be able to observe what actually happened. Millennials absolutely became a workaholic play hard generation.
Maybe Chinese millennials are more hard working
coolerthan us American ones?Man I remember when I was allowed to work hard, now robots get all the jobs and I’m stuck. It’s really weird.
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.
There’s a lot of factories over there dude
I’m sorry, but Millennials or Genz did not invent quiet quitting. The media made it up to describe just doing your damn job
Aren’t rats notable for their hygiene and social skills? Seems like a poor comparison.
Chinese culture has almost satirical levels of disrespect and misunderstanding of animals so it’s very much on character.
I used to have 3 rescue rats and they are incredibly clean, active and social animals. I’d used to take them outside and observe how they explore new areas and its was really incredible how coordinated and thought out their exploration plans would be and executed with utter most curiosity. Also very cute how they’d come back to me and ask to be taken home to their cage by basically hugging my foot.
Rats are the best. Little pocket puppies
/r/rats is the reason I’m still on Reddit
The pet rats community here is far too quiet
the only thing that stops me from getting rats is the short lifespans. I love dogs, and ~10 years is already too short. Dealing with that every two would just break me.
agreed. They really should live longer. the universe is not fair
Are they? I thought they piss and shit poison and eat their babies for food. Are you thinking of mice?
You’re thinking of humans
Human eat their babies for food??
Small brain energy.
your mom definitely should have
That’s just called depression. I’ve been experiencing that for years
Late-stage capitalism induced depression 👈
The environment doesn’t help whatsoever and capitalism absolutely breeds this but it’s not the sole cause. Depression is still a disorder that needs to be treated and would still exist even without this hostile environment we live in
Fair. Maybe I should get treated 🙃
If you have the means, I highly suggest it. I put it off for longer than I should have and finally got on medication and the difference has been night and day in quality of life, I experience a lot more clarity in my thought process. It’s definitely worth looking into if you think you may be struggling with depression. And it won’t disrupt the hatred of capitalism, I promise. It’s only helped me become a more clear headed anarchist
The rat seems to be their equivalent totem to the raccoon/opossum
the gutterpunk peoples speak of this as a sign
The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls.
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.
well, depression doesnt make it easy to do those things
Ditto this. This isn’t the hard-hitting smear they think it is, it’s a cry for help. They’re suffering the same symptoms of a collapsing society that we are. That’s not demeaning, it makes me sympathize with these kids even more.
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.
Friend, fuckin’ same. It seems like all the propaganda hit pieces do is make them feel more relatable, damn.
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Isn’t there the japanese thing “lay flat” where it’s just about surviving and not excelling in life
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping
It’s Chinese, seemingly
I would be surprised if there was not
I’m doing the same thing in the US after getting laid off, have no energy or motivation to apply for jobs or prep for interview. I’m kinda depressed about this situation but also kinda happy to have the freedom to actually rest and breath again, for a first world country the American work system is draconic, and tying Healthcare access to a job is just inhumane
Sorry to hear you lost your job. Hoping the best for you, internet stranger!
I agree that tying healthcare to one’s job is totally fucked up. Everyone should get healthcare, period. A less than 40 hour work week, and a ubi would be nice too.
If only all the rats of the world combined into an unruly rat king… Then things would change.
Master Splinter?
Wasn’t there also the “lie flat” trend? It’s not just Gen Z who are calling uncle. If I had the means, I’d join them.
Do you mean planking?
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?
My guy, gen Z’s parents are gen X and millennials, not boomers
Right on the cusp myself but my parents are boomers and I’m not the only person my age that’s true of
Bingo. Gen Z is still a young adult by definition so the parent’s hope is they might land a job somehow. China is a fast moving economy and it’s ultra competitive, some people would be inevitably left out.
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They are rats man. They find a way to survive just like… well… rats
wondering this as well
