I Think It’s Time To Give Up: An Analysis Of ‘Bai Lan’ Culture

Written By: Kimberley Pang

You may relate to this – working hard and yet not being able to reach your goals, always being surrounded by people better than you, always being taunted by imposter syndrome, discounting your dreams after realising that your best will never be good enough.

Many have come to realise that there is a single, sure-fire solution all these problems – just give up. This is the exact mindset that has gained traction in China mainstream media. Under the umbrella term ‘bai lan’ (摆烂), despondent youths have taken to the internet to find solidarity in their struggles of meeting the high expectations of themselves and their parents, especially in a society where everyone is competing to outperform one another.

This is similar to the ‘tang ping’ (躺平) trend in late 2021, which underscores being content with simple lifestyles and doing the bare minimum to get by, instead of working long and tireless hours like our parent’s generation.

Both are certainly an antithesis from the ‘996’ work culture in China, a phrase coined in early 2021 referring to the gruelling work schedule of toiling for 12 hours a day, six days a week, a “norm” in many industries in China that has made many employees feel obliged to conform to. The drastic transition from this lifestyle to the ‘bai lan’ mentality certainly shines light on the cultural revolution occurring in China today, and raises the question of whether the hardworking attitude the country is known for will soon be put in jeopardy.

The Spread Of Bai Lan Culture In China

On popular China social media platform Weibo, ‘bai lan’-related threads have garnered hundreds of millions of reads and likes, all in support of the idea that instead of attempting to salvage a deteriorating situation, it is much easier to embrace it. Many have shared their sentiments towards the idea, one of them being Guan Aizi, a 29-year-old who has since left her previous lifestyle of working overtime after coming to the realisation that “No matter how hard you try, how hard you work, maybe you’re just not as good as others. Maybe your end point doesn’t even compare to other people’s starting points.”

This mindset has also given way to many other varying applications of the phrase, such as “Properties in Shanghai too expensive? Fine, I’ll just rent all my life, as I can’t afford it if I only earn a monthly salary anyway,” which has sparked much discussion on the reasons behind this ‘give up’ attitude.

Ken Fung, a director of therapy and counselling in Hong Kong, shares his two cents regarding this phenomenon. “Such an attitude towards life is actually a response to a feeling of helplessness and indicates that teenagers are not rewarded enough for what they believe they have achieved,” he says.

He further elaborates that this is a feeling fostered through years of undergoing a rigorous education system, where everyone is relentlessly chasing for academic success and better results than their peers. This cultivates the mindset that there is no end in sight even after attaining good grades from a young age, which makes many feel hopeless and unmotivated. The social landscape and culture of China also further exacerbates their stresses.

Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, attributes ‘bai lan’ to the economic struggles that many people in China face, such as the inflation in and healthcare prices, making it nearly impossible for those who earn an average salary to afford it.

The pre-existing pressure sprouting from the constant rat race is further aggravated by the rising unemployment rates, which emphasizes the harsh reality that attaining a university degree is not nearly enough to guarantee a job in the current economy. People are competing for a slice of the pie that is, as Wu put it, “way too small”. Hence, although many of our predecessors may be quick to label this behaviour as one of low resilience or a characteristic of our “snowflake generation”, perhaps ‘bai lan’ is more of a defence mechanism than anything else; a way people protect themselves from burnout, or feeling incompetent in our current day and age.

The Potential Future of Singapore in Relation to ‘Bai Lan’

Although ‘bai lan’ has not reached the same level of prevalence in Singapore as compared to China, it is interesting to question if there is a potential for such attitudes to become widespread, given the similar social landscape we share with our Asian counterparts.

With our competitiveness on a global scale and our economy bolstered with vigorous youths striving to be the best, is Singapore merely a microcosm of China? In terms of our deep-rooted beliefs and attitudes when it comes to work culture or education, we seem to be running in parallel, albeit a few steps behind.

Singapore is also known for our extreme property and car ownership prices, a result of our prospering economy that has left many who are unable to afford the lifestyle feeling disillusioned. The increasing pressure to get married and procreate also comes with increasing prices, and the never-ending stress that follows when putting one‘s child through the rigorous education system in Singapore. Feelings of incompetence and hopelessness are subsequently cultivated in youths from a young age, where the huge emphasis on academics and achievements could further reinforce the harsh reality that they might never be good enough despite putting in their best efforts.

This vicious cycle nurtured in our societal terrain appears to be a direct reflection or, at least, similar to China’s.

On the same train of thought, could the widespread ‘hustle culture’ we see catching wind among the youths in Singapore merely be a smaller scaled variation of the ‘996’ work trend? Seeing as to how ‘tang ping’ and subsequently ‘bai lan’ was what followed ‘996’, I believe that one can paint a picture of what might potentially occur in our society as well.

As such, it is important to consider what we stand to lose if the ‘bai lan’ notion does gain traction in Singapore. There have been several different sentiments towards the consequences of ‘bai lan’ culture in China, but one that has sparked much concern is that of Wu’s, who raised the idea that ‘bai lan’ adopters may try to “damage the current system” or become a “rebellion force in China in the future”.

Although this projects a grim and dystopian scenario, it might not be as far-fetched as it seems, especially in Singapore’ context where the population is much smaller, and ideologies spread quickly.

Furthermore, a larger population of ‘bai lan’ adopters who reject high-achieving lifestyles means that more job positions are open to those who do strive for such success. In extreme situations, this could result in the market being deprived of a variety of perspectives and innovation, as only those of a similar profile are recruited into these positions.

On an individual level, those who repeatedly adopt the ‘bai lan’ mentality may never realise their true potential if their solution to every problem is to give up before they have even tried, in fear that the results will not be proportionate to their efforts. This may also result in a society of low resilient individuals, which can have a detrimental effect on our collective mental health and motivation as a nation.

What We Can Do for Ourselves

How can we prevent ourselves from falling into this mentality then? According to Fung, the only solution is to solve the root of the issue. As ‘bai lan’ is a result from feeling exhausted and hopeless, it is crucial that we learn to take charge of our lives and review our current lifestyles. Ask yourself – what are you not satisfied with and what can you do to change it? For some, this could mean taking a breather from their hectic academic schedules, or for others, changing their careers to one they find meaningful. After all, there is always a way to climb out of a rut, you just have to make a choice.

Will you give up? Or will you keep trying?