No Men Allowed

Hello TWOC readers!
After a well-earned break to celebrate the new Year of the Dragon, our team is back at work and happy to bring you the latest monthly newsletter.
Read on to get a glimpse of:
The struggle over female-only spaces in China in a male-dominated society
The steadfast passion of Chinese liberal arts students navigating a STEM-dominated job market
The enduring appeal of China’s favorite comfort food: latiao
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The Struggle Over Female-Only Spaces
In China, the rise of women-only spaces such as gyms, hostels, and metro carriages is a reflection of increasing concerns over safety and a quest for comfort—but not everybody is happy. Read more

The Woes of China’s Liberal Arts Students
China’s liberal arts students show dedication and resilience in the face of a job market where non-STEM applications often go unnoticed and opportunities are scarce, underscoring a broader issue of valuing practical skills over critical thinking and creativity. Read more

The Story Behind China’s Favorite Snack
The story of latiao, a beloved snack originating from the 1990s, encapsulates the cultural significance and nostalgia of a simpler time for many Chinese. From its modest start to becoming a billion-yuan industry, the story behind China’s favorite snack is one of entrepreneurial resolve and ingenuity. Read more
What We’re Playing

Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game (Darksun Studio, January 22)
In the deck-building game Yi Xian, players craft their strategies by selecting from a vast array of cards, each offering unique combat abilities and synergies to play around. The game has been praised for its depth, even drawing comparisons to genre giants like Slay the Spire from some reviewers on Steam. We met the developer who sold his house and risked everything to make it. Read more
Chinese You Need

The Lunar New Year in China is the ultimate family reunion. To dodge marriage and career inquisitions, Chinese netizens craft responses so artfully evasive they could dodge raindrops—like deflecting the dreaded “How much do you earn?” (一个月赚多少 Yí gè yuè zhuàn duōshao?) with a cheeky “Not much, less than a hundred million yuan (没多少, 不到一亿 Méi duōshao, búdào yíyì).” Check out our latest Chinese language guide to get ready for your next family reunion.
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