Viral videos flipping guilt-based parenting narratives
A series of short videos have recently become a viral sensation in China by flipping the script on "Chinese-style parenting." These videos, shot from a child's perspective, reenact typical parent-child conversations but with a twist. Instead of children hearing the usual guilt-inducing phrases, the roles are reversed, with parents experiencing a taste of the bitterness that they used to put on to their children.
Phrases like "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even buy this," "I work every day for you," and "At your age, you should be striving to get into a good (elderly) university" are echoed back to the parents. The dialogue highlights the emotional burden of guilt that many children carry under this parenting style . Chinese parents often use this parenting style to enforce mental control on their children. Rather than simply cutting off family ties (断亲) , these young people are taking it a step further, turning the tables to give their parents a lesson instead.
A typical video in which young people flip the scripts on Chinese-style guilty-based parenting. The video has received 444,000 likes, 20,000 comments, 31,000 saves and 520,000 forwards. Video: Douyin @小野依依
These videos epitomize the evolving family concepts in contemporary China. Having children is no longer a necessity, and even parent-child and kinship ties can be cut off. The family has gradually transformed from a "need-based" community into an "optional" relationship, where individuals prioritize their own needs over family obligations.
