How the marriage market works in China, where parents announce their children In China, single women over the age of 27 are now officially called "left behind" — an expression created by the government to encourage marriage and family formation. The term, however, is the target of criticism and symbolizes the clash between public policies aimed at population growth and a generation of women that prioritizes independence, career and personal fulfillment. The expression emerged amid authorities' concern about the drop in the number of marriages and births. With the population shrinking and aging rapidly, the government sees the reduction in the formation of new families as one of the factors that could compromise the country's economic growth in the coming decades. But the strategy does not seem to have the expected effect. According to a survey cited in the report, 70% of Chinese women born after 1990 say that marriage is not their top priority. Many of them say they prefer to remain single rather than enter into a relationship just to meet family or societal expectations. The change in behavior is linked, in part, to women's growing financial independence. A young woman interviewed summarizes this transformation by stating that they "no longer depend on men for anything". For the generation born after the 2000s, affinity, common interests and well-being began to be worth more than assets or financial stability when choosing a partner. Meanwhile, part of the older generation continues to encourage their children to get married. In Shanghai, for example, parents still attend the traditional marriage market, where they advertise the age, profession, income and other characteristics of their single children in an attempt to find a suitor. 'Resumés for marriage': get to know the Chinese market in which parents advertise their single children 'Left behind': term created by the Chinese government for single women generates criticism Reproduction/TV Globo Social pressure and demographic crisis The discussion about the so-called "women left behind" takes place at a delicate time for China. The country is facing a drop in population and a reduction in the workforce, while the number of elderly people is growing. According to the report, by 2035 China could lose a population equivalent to that of France, a scenario that increases spending on pensions and reduces the number of people of working age. At the same time, experts point out that the country is still suffering the effects of the one-child policy, in force between 1980 and 2015. The historical preference for boys caused an imbalance between men and women of marriageable age, leaving millions of men with more difficulty finding partners. At the end of the report, the decision of many women to postpone or reject marriage is presented as a response to expectations imposed for decades. Although they still occupy little space in the country's main bodies of political power, they have begun to exercise their autonomy in their personal lives, questioning the idea that getting married and having children is an obligatory destiny. How the marriage market works in China, where parents announce their children as single Reproduction/TV Globo GloboPop: click to see the videos from the Fantástico stage Listen to the Fantástico podcasts ISSO É FANTÁSTICO The Isso É Fantástico podcast is available on g1 and the main podcast apps, bringing great reports, investigations and fascinating stories on podcast with the Fantástico journalism seal: depth, context and information. Follow, like or subscribe to Isso É Fantástico on your favorite podcast player. Every Sunday there's a new episode.