Why Do Some People Hate Being Chinese These Days?

The recent spate of articles with titles such as “Almost nobody in Hong Kong under 30 identifies as “Chinese” , “Are Singaporeans Too Westernised To Appreciate Chinese Culture?” and ‘You don’t want to be Chinese any more‘ have left me pondering the questions: Why do some people hate being Chinese nowadays?

Though I cannot know for sure nor read the minds of the subjects, I can certainly speculate some possible reasons why they feel that way.

These views came from individuals with low self esteem

Chinese culture has been greatly influenced by the Western cultures, especially their values and social norms. Just take a look at one of the magazines, or the advertisements on billboards, newspapers or any other form of media. There was a great chance that these products are from foreign countries.

The individuals with low self esteem and self worth is due to the negative image that they had created for themselves. Many Chinese have been brought up with expectations for their kids to be smart and respectful, but many failed to do so as they were simply not good enough as their peers. It’s almost like a self fulfilling prophecy where they actually fulfill what others expected of them.

Chinese culture is too judgmental

One of the reasons why some people hate being Chinese nowadays is because of the judgmental culture within the community.

The Chinese culture favors people who are successful, those who have money and power, over the goodness of heart. It emphasizes more on the appearance, than on the actual worth of the person. This is not only evident in China but also in other parts of Asia where Chinese migrants have settled and gone on to become successful.

A classic example of this phenomenon is that a wealthy and successful businessman in China would be better accepted by society than a kind hearted philanthropist who has no money. In fact, if you are poor but have an excellent moral character, many would rather shun you for your inability to provide for them.

They want to be recognised and accepted by the west