The ‘rat person’ trend is here – and I thoroughly approve | Arwa Mahdawi

In Zhejiang province, a woman named Jiawenshishi is living a serene life by balancing daily activities with simple joys like eating and napping. Her "rat person" lifestyle reflects a growing cultural trend in China where people prioritize comfort and simplicity over active pursuits, embracing a relaxed approach to life amid increasing competition. Brands are capitalizing on this shift by producing trendy merchandise featuring cartoon characters like Big Rat and leveraging the "rat person" concept for profit. However, this passive lifestyle may signal a broader cultural move toward valuing simplicity over active living as people conserve energy and focus on basic needs.