The Xinhua News Agency has a headline news story on the problem of “excess women” in China’s major cities, who were born in the 1970’s and are unable to find suitable partners for marriage.

“31 year old Li Lingling is hurrying to register for participation in a marriage introduction group arranged by a dating website before 26 August. She hopes to be able to find her future husband through this event.”

“According to the Chinese calendar, August 26 this year is the date of the traditional ‘Double Seven Festival.’ Many young people in China, however, have made this date China’s very own Valentine’s Day.”

“‘I don’t want to spend that day alone. I long for romance, and hope to be able to find a suitable partner, as well as marry as soon as possible’, says Li Lingling. Because the 31 year-old has not yet married, she must endure nagging from her father and mother on a daily basis, as well as the excessive ‘concern’ of her friends.”

“After graduating from university at the age of 24, Li Lingling has been constantly searching for the person with whom she can share the rest of her life. ‘I’ve reached the appropriate age for marriage, she have been unable to find the appropriate man’, she laughs. ‘I have acquired the title within my circle of friends of being the ‘Excess Woman.’”

“In today’s China’s, ‘excess women’ like Li Lingling have become a widespread social phenomonon. They were born in the 1970’s, and according to tradition are already considered ‘old maids.’ Most ‘excess women’ had advanced educations, are intelligent, capable, have high incomes and possess appearances beyond reproach.”

“However, their marriage problems have become a major concern for a growing number of Chinese parents.”

“‘I have never been able to find anyone approrpriate.’ Ding Xiaoxu, who considers herself to be highly attractive, is already 30 years old. She has also registered for the same marriage introduction group as Li Lingling. She emphasizes that ‘I have truly never met any man who has interest me.’”

“Ding Xiaoxu’s mother also hopes that her daughter can spend a little less time at work. In her time, women would usually marry at the age of 23 or 24. ‘Our partners were usually introduced to us by other people. Today, in spite of the idea of free love, people are having trouble finding love and marrying.’”

“Although there are no accurate figures for just how many ‘excess women’ there are in China who are desparate for marriage, one need only look at the dating events which are held in public parks on the weekend, and the number of women in attendance with their parents. ‘On our website, the ratio of fee-paying female members to male members is 65:35′, says a figure from the China Hongliang Website (中国红娘网), one of China’s most famous marriage agencies.”

“Some men feel that the reason that there are so many “‘xcess women’ is because these women are too fussy. ‘They will only marry a man who has both a house and a car’, complains 27 year-old white-collar worker Gao Jianming. According to him, many women are too materialistic in their search for a partner, placing primary consideration upon economic circumstances instead of emotion.”

“‘Marriage has turned into a numbers game, but how many young people possess a large amount of wealth? No wonder they can’t marry’, says Gao Jianming.”

“Of course, Gao Jianming hasn’t described the full reason. In the view of some observers, the phenomenon of ‘excess women’ can be considered one of China’s ‘development illnesses’ of .”

“A renowned marriage consultant, Yan Shan, says that ‘as feamle independence has strengthened, and the work pressures of women in China’s major cities have increased, their social networks have diminished. This is the main barrier to them finding a ’suitable mate.’”

Title of original news story in Chinese: ““剩女”问题困扰中国都市女性:交友圈越来越狭小”

My take on it:

Many of these women are such princesses they cannot find anyone who is good enough or who will put up with their inflated egos. They advertise for boyfriends as if it’s a job interview, listing all the many requirements, and note that they themselves are “cute, lovely, beautiful, charming, clever, sexy …” and might well be NONE of those things. I have tested the waters myself and couldn’t get away fast enough. Their parents and grandparents have so thoroughly spoiled them they are quite possibly pathological narcissists.