CCTV9英语新闻：Pro-singledom ad goes viral

Women in China who don't get married after a certain age are often called 'leftover women'.  By telling what many of these single women are really thinking, a cosmetics ad has gone viral.  

 

"Be independent and lead a wonderful life, that's what I want." 

 

"If she wants to be single, I also think it's fine. We will still respect her choice." 

 

That's the video making a stir in China now.  It's watched more than 10 million times since its release on April 7. The advertisement by the cosmetics company SK-II described some of the troubles involved in being "leftover": they are pressured to display their personal information in parks for match-making. 

 

They also face frequent talking-tos by parents pushing them to quickly tie the knot. As the ad calls for single women to live life as they choose, it's welcomed across the country. Viewers say it reflects how women think of marriage these days.

 

"Parents tell you it's time to get married. Your friends say to you that you should have a boyfriend at this age. But you should follow your heart whether to get married or not. It's not necessary to give in to the pressure from outside." 

 

"I think every woman should have the initiative and attitude to pursue happiness. As long as you handle your life and happiness as carefully as you treat your work. No matter what choices you make, it's important that you feel happy."

 

It's not just marriage that women are expecting from. Experts say women today are more conscious of their rights in all aspects of life.

 

"Because Chinese women no longer want to be models in car advertisements, in shampoo commercials, and in those family-oriented commercials featured in the kitchen, they are more independent, they have more opportunities, they are more conscious of feminism," said Li Tingting, Women's Rights activist.  

 

Women in China's big cities are marrying later. In Beijing and Shanghai, the average age of first marriage is now closing on thirty, while the national average is 26. Just as the ad shows at the end, they won't let pressure decide their future.