"Having Three Children Is the Most Wonderful Thing"... Chaos Over Absurd Slogan Hung on the Street in China

Creation of Marriage-Themed Street in Hunan Province, China
'Marriage School' Offering Love and Marriage Classes
Netizens Say "Marriage and Parenting Are Personal Choices"

A controversy has arisen over a slogan announced in a Chinese city to increase marriage and birth rates.

On the 2nd (local time), the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a marriage-themed street was recently created in Changsha City, located in Hunan Province, China. The street displays Chinese and Western wedding scenes and offers visitors various photo opportunities. The issue lies with the pink slogans hung throughout the street. The slogans included phrases such as "I enjoy making breakfast," "I am willing to take care of the baby," and "Having three children is the coolest thing."

The slogans were criticized online for depicting women's roles in married life. One netizen commented on the Chinese social networking service (SNS) Xiaohongshu, saying, "Cooking and childcare are portrayed as women's responsibilities and emphasized in pink, which feels disrespectful and discriminatory toward women." Other netizens also expressed negative reactions, saying, "This is nonsense. Does having three children make someone cool? Self-esteem should not be tied to marriage and motherhood," and "Why do leaders impose this on young people without practicing it themselves?"

The street also features a so-called 'marriage school' where visitors can rent traditional Chinese wedding attire and participate in classes about love and marriage. Changsha city authorities aim for this street to resonate with young people, promote marriage culture, and eventually contribute to population growth. Regarding this, one netizen supported it on Weibo, calling it "very educational" and stating, "Marriage and childbirth are essential components of society." On the other hand, some voices argued, "This kind of activity is embarrassing," and "Marriage and childcare should be personal choices."

Meanwhile, the number of marriage registrations in China hit a record low in the first half of this year. The Chinese government announced that it processed 3.43 million marriage registrations and 1.274 million divorce registrations in the first and second quarters of this year. The number of marriage registrations in the first half of this year decreased by 498,000 (12.7%) compared to the same period last year (3.928 million), marking the lowest since 2013. In China, many couples marry during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), so the number of marriage registrations in the first half of the year is usually higher than in the second half. Based on this trend, it is forecasted that the total number of marriage registrations this year will be around 6.6 million couples.