this post was submitted on 29 May 2025
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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.

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[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 205 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Hard not to sympathize. World is fucked.

[–] match@pawb.social 74 points 1 week ago

Solidarity with rats worldwide

[–] skisnow@lemmy.ca 128 points 1 week ago (5 children)

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

[–] Fingolfinz@lemmy.world 31 points 1 week 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

[–] GalacticGrapefruit@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

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.

[–] conicalscientist@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago

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.

[–] LePoisson@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago

Maybe Chinese millennials are more hard working ~~cooler~~ than us American ones?

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[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 63 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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%

[–] taladar@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 week ago (3 children)

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.

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[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 52 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Aren't rats notable for their hygiene and social skills? Seems like a poor comparison.

[–] drmoose@lemmy.world 28 points 1 week ago (11 children)

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.

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[–] Chocrates@lemmy.world 51 points 1 week ago

I'm sorry, but Millennials or Genz did not invent quiet quitting. The media made it up to describe just doing your damn job

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 46 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The rat seems to be their equivalent totem to the raccoon/opossum

[–] TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com 25 points 1 week ago (1 children)

the gutterpunk peoples speak of this as a sign

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[–] Fingolfinz@lemmy.world 45 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That’s just called depression. I’ve been experiencing that for years

[–] SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone 16 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Late-stage capitalism induced depression 👈

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[–] besselj@lemmy.ca 43 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You sure it's not just depression?

[–] tal@lemmy.today 17 points 1 week ago (2 children)

If it is, staying in a dark house and not exercising is definitely not what one wants to do.

[–] protogen420@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 1 week ago

well, depression doesnt make it easy to do those things

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[–] rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee 41 points 1 week ago

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.

[–] GalacticGrapefruit@lemmy.world 32 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Friend, fuckin' same. It seems like all the propaganda hit pieces do is make them feel more relatable, damn.

[–] Bababasti@feddit.org 31 points 1 week ago

You have more in common with a Chinese or Russian worker than any billionaire.

[–] who@feddit.org 27 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)
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[–] Kowowow@lemmy.ca 25 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Isn't there the japanese thing "lay flat" where it's just about surviving and not excelling in life

[–] the_q@lemm.ee 22 points 1 week ago (2 children)

If only all the rats of the world combined into an unruly rat king... Then things would change.

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[–] BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

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[–] 2ugly2live@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago (2 children)

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.

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[–] answersplease77@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago (5 children)

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?

[–] Stabbitha@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

My guy, gen Z's parents are gen X and millennials, not boomers

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[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 11 points 1 week ago

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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[–] HyalineCat@lemm.ee 18 points 1 week ago

I would too if I didn't have to work full time for affordable health care pouts

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 17 points 1 week ago (1 children)

So how do they keep a roof, four walls and food?

[–] FoxyFerengi@lemm.ee 32 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Children don't always leave to form new households in China. It's common, especially for unmarried children, to continue to live with their parents after they've grown into adults.

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[–] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 15 points 1 week ago

holy fuck i want to spend days in bed

[–] renamon_silver@lemmy.wtf 14 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Most of us spend entire nights in bed, we should not judge

[–] Googledotcom@lemm.ee 13 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

The greatest tragedy of 21 century is masses of pacified people who farm karma and validity online in some circlejerks to feel dopamine hits from moral superiority.

It’s the real brain drain of today.

When they give up, the Machiavellists who were countered by brave people in the past come in full force.

I ask you… no I beg you. Use the internet to enhance communication, not just as an escape. We cannot afford to run from the problems any longer

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[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 13 points 1 week ago

It would be so very Warhammer 40k if sheer capitalism warped humanity into the Skaven.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago

A sudden seemingly coordinated wave of "China is horrible" stories, just as the courts start striking down Trump's 145% tariffs.

Crazy coincidental.

[–] demizerone@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago

Fuck ya. Go rat people go!

[–] Baguette@lemm.ee 12 points 1 week ago (3 children)
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[–] askat@programming.dev 10 points 1 week ago

They quit rat race

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