Sinobabble

The "White Woman aesthetic" trend and Chinese class struggle

Yoghurt bowls. Lululemon leggings. Ugg slippers. More young Chinese women embrace what they identify as the "white woman aesthetic" as an antidote to the pressures of high maintenance beauty standards and material achievement. As more Chinese women question the grind and settle for less, is the "white woman aesthetic" really an innocent social media fad or a deeper awakening of class consciousness? Chapters 3:15: Introduction to the "White Woman aesthetic"12:00 Chinese middle class anxiety14:31 Defining the Chinese middle class21:05 Morality and responsibility of the Chinese middle class27:32 Limitations of the Chinese middle class37:08 ConclusionsSupport the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

China's ecommerce dystopia: TEMU, SHEIN and the fast-everything model

The newer and nimbler players in Chinese e-commerce are pushing buttons in the West. Rock-bottom prices, fast fulfilment and addictive interfaces are pushed to their limits to take China's dopamine economy global. What's going on, where does AI fit in the picture and what can we do to take on these new standards of consumption?Support the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

Young Chinese people can't find jobs (they actually want)

In the face of economic turbulence, China's youth are struggling to find jobs that are suited to their skills and can give them the life that they want and were promised. While China's government strives to alleviate youth unemployment, societal and cultural factors pose significant challenges. China's young people are reacting in unpredictable ways - finding alternate ways to get jobs, taking time out to become full time kids, or forging their own paths altogether.Chapters 00:00 Background: Employment in China vs the West03:50 Reasons for youth unemployment in China08:55 Crazy job requirements11:30 Chinese gov helps youth find jobs17:20 Caveat about youth unemployment18:37 Chinese social culture and jobs27:18 Young people's response to joblessnessSupport the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

I read all 212 pages of Hong Kong's new National Security Bill. It's not good.

"Safeguarding National Security Bill", also known as Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, was passed in March to no public opposition. I read through the whole bill and discussed how it may be used to transgress human rights and common sense in Hong Kong. I also discuss the history of recent protests in Hong Kong, and how they paved the way for Beijing to get its way and increase its control over its peopleChapters (00:00) Introduction to Article 23(03:15) Background: protests and new legislation 2019 - 2021(13:07) Going through Article 23(16:00) Part 2: Treason(18:45) Part 3: Sedition(22:55) Part 4: Espionage(26:55) Part 5: Sabotage(27:27) Part 6: External Interference (31:15) Part 7: Enforcement(36:08) Foreign commentaryBuy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sinobabblepodLinks to everything: https://linktree.com/sinobabbleSupport the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

China's EV industry (was funded by the US)

There’s a lot of outrage currently about China’s attempts to grow its EV market, at the expense of the US economy. But the truth is that the Chinese EV market wouldn't be where it is today without the generous funding it received (and continues to receive) from the US, Western governments, and multinational companies looking to cash in on the next big thing.So let's talk about the ways in which China's EV industry is funded by the US, both directly and indirectly, partly with the help of your pension fund.Chapters (00:00) Introduction (03:15) Timeline of China's EV industry (12:20) The threat of Chinese made EVs (15:00) #1: The West was happy with China’s EV development (when it benefited them) (20:40) #2: China's EV market was funded with US FDI and investor capital(28:45) #3: China's investment scene is better than Silicon Valley(39:30) The West as get rich quick schemeBuy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sinobabblepodSupport the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod