KEY POINTS

  • A man in China, 55, attempted to take his own life because his 29-year-old son was still single
  • He survived the incident and received treatment at a hospital 
  • The incident sparked a discussion regarding the pressures faced by young Chinese people to settle down early

A man in China who attempted to take his own life over the weekend said he "lived a life of shame" because his 29-year-old son was still single.

The unnamed 55-year-old father fainted at Shanghai Railway Station Saturday, Insider reported, citing local news outlet KNews. He allegedly handed a note to the station's guards and claimed he overdosed on medication before passing out.

The note addressed to the man's son claimed the father "lived a life of shame" because his child still did not have a family.

"People of my age in the village all have children and grandchildren. But you are 29 and have achieved nothing," the man wrote.

The man survived the incident and reportedly received hospital treatment.

Meanwhile, a conversation regarding the pressures faced by young people to settle down early erupted on Chinese social media following the incident.

"The father's responsibility is to raise his son well and [give] him a good education, but also see him married and start a business. Only then can he complete his mission," one person, who claimed to be a father that could relate to the man, commented on China's Twitter-like platform Weibo.

Others claimed that the man's actions have made it more difficult for his son to get married as the pressure from his in-laws was now too great.

People in China are expected to get married before they turn 30, and it is reportedly common for parents to push their children toward that direction by setting up blind dates, among other things.

There is even a term for single women in the country who are over 27 — sheng nu - which translates into English as "leftover women." The term can also apply to women seeking education, economic freedom and a more "unconventional life path.”

A survey released in October that polled 2,905 unmarried people between the ages of 18 and 26 living in Chinese cities found that 44% of female respondents had no intention to get married, while 25% of male respondents came to the same conclusion.

Around 34.5% of those who gave out the answer cited "not having the time or energy" as their reason for not wanting to get married. Meanwhile, 60.8% of the responders claimed they found it "difficult to find the right person."

"Gen Z Chinese women have more education than previous generations. They are more likely to prioritize their career rather than get married after a university education," Dr Ye Liu, a senior lecturer at King’s College London’s Lau China Institute, said.

"What [young Chinese] want is a better career future, an opportunity to have it all – career and family as well as self-fulfillment. Without these, it’s hard to convince them to have babies first," she added.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.

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Representation. People in China are expected to get married before they turn 30. Pixabay