✨ Let’s get into it ✨
💡 TLDR
Okay so like, ever feel like your culture is just a trend now? I mean, I grew up being called a “doll” for having a flat face, then later realized that “flat” was just code for “Chinese.” Fast forward…
Okay so like, ever feel like your culture is just a trend now? I mean, I grew up being called a “doll” for having a flat face, then later realized that “flat” was just code for “Chinese.” Fast forward to today, and suddenly, being Chinese is the ultimate chill vibe—like, you sip herbal tea, wear slippers, and flex your “self-optimization” skills. But here’s the thing: I didn’t choose this. My face, my eyes, my mom’s red bean soup—it’s all me, and it’s not a hashtag.
Back in the day, being Chinese meant getting bullied for my name, Feier Xue, which sounded like a cursed spell. My teachers mispronounced it, my classmates snickered, and I learned to shrink myself, like a tiny version of my grandma’s longyan fruit—sweet on the outside, bitter inside. But now? Suddenly, I’m a “Chinese baddie” in someone else’s TikTok feed. People are Googling “how to be Chinese” like it’s a fitness challenge, sipping TCM tea as if it’s a skincare routine. The irony? These same people were mocking my accent, my food, my “weird” habits just a decade ago.
It’s not just about the culture—it’s about the vibe. You can buy “Chinese” skincare, “Chinese” aesthetics, even “Chinese” time management, but where’s the context? Sable Yong calls it “commodification,” and she’s not wrong. You can’t take a 500-year-old tradition and turn it into a 10-second viral clip without erasing the people who made it. Plus, Arabelle Sicardi points out the hypocrisy: the same folks who once called Chinese kids “lunchbox bullies” are now obsessed with “Chinese” haircuts and herbal remedies. It’s like the world finally got tired of being racist, but now they’re just… tired of being themselves?
So here’s the real question: What happens when the trend fades? Will we still be proud of our roots, or will we just move on to the next thing? Because being Chinese isn’t a trend you can try on and take off—it’s woven into your DNA, your memories, and your identity. And yeah, sometimes that’s messy. But that’s also what makes it real.
💫 Would you still call yourself Chinese if the world stopped caring.
Hey, what’s your take? Would you still call yourself Chinese if the world stopped caring?
❓ People Also Ask
What defines someone as Chinese today?
Citizenship, ancestry, or cultural identity can define someone as Chinese. Legal status and heritage are key factors in modern identification.
How does China determine nationality?
China uses birthplace, parentage, or naturalization. Citizenship is primarily based on lineage or legal registration under Chinese law.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇