Face-Off: The U.S. vs China Generation Burnout
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Nov 18, 2025 
In this discussion, Chang Che, a Chinese-American journalist exploring post-pandemic China, shares insights on the disillusionment of Chinese youth embracing 'garbage time.' He highlights their quiet rebellion against a stagnant system, the decline in marriage rates, and the creative responses emerging among young people. Historian Rana Mitter adds depth by comparing global youth discontent and questioning whether AI will truly revive opportunities. The conversation reveals a complex landscape of frustration, innovation, and the search for identity in challenging times.
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Garbage Time As A New Era
- "Garbage time" captures a grassroots sense that China's reform-era growth is over and society feels stuck.
- The term spread online because it contradicted state narratives of confident national resurgence.
From Finance To A Yunnan Coffee Shop
- A Shanghai woman left finance after industry crackdowns, learned coffee farming in Yunnan, and opened a small cafe back in the city.
- She reduced ambition and accepts just scraping by so her work feels meaningful.
Education Fuels Feminist Discontent
- Chinese women face rising expectations and limited traditional roles, boosting a feminist awakening among youth.
- Higher education and cosmopolitan outlooks make marriage and prescriptive life paths less attractive.