Independent, straightforward and less materialistic than their Chinese peers – that’s the growing allure of Western women for Chinese men.

Li Lei published on the Web an article entitled “Chinese men love Western women”, asking Western women living in Beijing if they were willing to foster a long-term and serious relationship with a Chinese man. By long-term and serious relationship, he means marriage. In China, there are way fewer Chinese men marrying Western women than Chinese women marrying Western men. Why has Li Lei decided to go off the beaten track?

It turns out that the 30-year-old Beijing resident, who once studied in the Netherlands and Britain, has found himself more attracted to the traits of the Western female. He thinks these women are more independent and straightforward, and less coddled than Chinese women. Being outspoken especially appeals to Li Lei. “If there is something they want, they will tell you directly.”

In addition to posting personals on dating sites, Li Lei, a project manager at a foreign trade company, also participates in mixed-race speed dating parties and international cultural exchange activities.

Tony, a 28-year-old from Hunan Province, has a fondness for Western women, too. He has been an analyst at a multinational corporation for five years, and is in contact with female foreign colleagues on a regular basis.

Tony had two relationships with Chinese women, but was frustrated by how frequently they were throwing tantrums. As a result, he made up his mind two years ago that women from North America or Europe suit him better.

More Chinese men are attracted to Western women these days.

 

Chinese women will only marry you when you own a mansion

Part of the reason why they now prefer Western women, is that an increasing number of Chinese women are materialistic, and will not make a commitment unless their men buy them a piece of real estate. Chinese men who, like Li Lei and Tony, only lay eyes on Western women are still in the minority. However, as more foreign girls come to China for language studies and life experiences and more Chinese men go out, this proportion is going to grow.

Fishbowl Events, an organisation run by two foreign women that hosts speed dating parties in Beijing, found that participation of Chinese male has significantly grown over the past few years.

Ola Zdzarska, one of the founders, said that in 2007, only 20% of the participants are Chinese male. Now the percentage has risen to 40%. Some among them indeed only pay attention to the foreign female.

 

Selected comments by Chinese netizens

 

王榕

There are good girls everywhere. It’s your bad luck if you haven’t met any. With globalisation and the development of telecommunications, mixed-race relationships will surely be more common, but they won’t become mainstream anytime soon… Chinese women are born and brought up in a less-developed country. It is only natural that they take material conditions into account, marriage-wise. Western women are born and grew up in a developed country, and they may care less about material things. But it doesn’t mean they don’t have any requirement. Similarly, a woman brought up in poverty or a needy environment would value money and be industrious and thrifty in managing a household. It is not bad if an ordinary man finds a woman who knows how to budget. Besides, many Chinese women are financially independent. Asking for real estate and a car is but a result of influences of tradition. After all, these material things belong to both of the couple after marriage... In fact, there is no good or bad, right or wrong when it comes to marriage. Whoever suits you is the best.

 

greentree01

No matter what, you cannot ignore the fact that Chinese women are more selfish in general. They are more inclined to take than to give. They are not good wife material.

 

greenlawn

Hehe, it is tiring to guess the other’s mind. Let girls try reading guys’ minds, and she would know how tiring it is. Many Chinese girls are not straight-forward. It is a disservice to both themselves and guys. But there are fewer women than men, so a woman always has some man who spoils her. It cannot be changed anytime soon. You would know when you are tired. One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

 

dragon

We’d better marry girls from Africa. They are usually faithful, and do not ask for any house. Being able to afford a tent is fine. Mature Western women, unless they are much older than you or are very unpopular, would want to marry white men, but you can still have a shot at it on British or American dating sites. No woman wanting to get married does not hope for a house.

 

兔子灯

Forget it. It must be another article written by a bumpkin who’s never been abroad. All women in the world think alike. You are sidelined if you have no house or car, no matter if she’s from North America or Europe. You will still have to fend for her after marriage.

 

This post was originally published on Ministry of Tofu in November 2010.