The “pseudo-widows” introduced in the previous article can indeed be called “strong women”. They serve as role models for the current generation. It is not easy for them to silently dedicate their youth for the family and the community. However, a troubling trend has emerged in rural areas with the prevalence of “stay-at-home men,” causing distress among many. The phenomenon of stay-at-home men is not hard to understand; they may be busy with household chores or educating children. The older generation of farmers believes that these stay-at-home men are akin to living off their partners, having swapped roles with rural women.
In the past, influenced by traditional thoughts, rural men were either ambitious, focusing on their careers, or rebellious, showcasing their masculinity. Staying at home was not considered manly, and the lifestyle of living off a partner has heavily tarnished the image of rural men. Historically, Chen Shimei, who lived off a woman, was despised, and now the phenomenon of stay-at-home men seems to repeat this cycle.
Firstly, some stay-at-home men in rural areas are seen as weak, lacking a sense of family responsibility. With societal development and the improvement of urban infrastructure, the migrant worker industry has faced significant setbacks. Companies require skills and work experience, leading to a situation where men earn little outside and find it more appealing to stay home and let their wives work for them.
When faced with difficulties, they choose to escape, spending their days idly at home, either playing games or using their phones. This can easily lead to disharmony within the family.
Lastly, with the development of artificial intelligence, light industry has become the main force. To improve efficiency and reduce labor costs, rural women have become a popular choice for employment. It is difficult to recruit male migrant workers for 1000 yuan, but rural women can be hired. This has limited the employment opportunities for rural men, leaving them with no choice but to stay home and tend to household duties.
In the past, those without skills could farm, but now farming requires scientific knowledge, which has contributed to the overabundance of stay-at-home men as a social phenomenon.
The prevalence of femininity over masculinity is an unhealthy trend in rural areas, detrimental to family harmony and hindering the community’s progress towards prosperity. It diminishes the fighting spirit of stay-at-home men for a better life. This is one of the phenomena that many in the older generation of farmers do not wish to see. In the battle against poverty, many households remain impoverished due to a lack of good mental health and a spirit of hard work. Life is earned through struggle, not by relying on another’s contributions, which is also a form of irresponsibility towards oneself.