The "Lie Flat" Movement
- Xuande
- Nov 27, 2023
- 3 min read
The term "Lie Flat" (躺平主义), originating in Korea and Japan and gaining traction in China,
describes a burgeoning cultural trend among the millennial generation, particularly those born in the 2000s. This phenomenon, primarily driven by high competition in schools and workplaces, low economic progression, and the soaring costs of raising a family, represents a radical shift in lifestyle and work ethics.
At its core, "Lie Flat" advocates for maintaining a minimalistic lifestyle, symbolizing a rejection of societal pressures to constantly strive for more. This movement champions slogans like "no buying houses, no buying cars, no marriage, no child-rearing, no consumerism," emphasizing the desire to live a life free from exploitation and the relentless drive for wealth accumulation. Essentially, it's a call for living with the bare essentials, a stark contrast to the traditional pursuit of material success.
This cultural shift is not just a fad but a response to deeper socioeconomic changes. In places like China, rapid economic growth post-1978 reforms led to an intense focus on wealth generation. However, as economic growth slows, young people find themselves competing for increasingly limited resources, leading to a phenomenon known as "internal scrolling" or "neijuan" (内卷). This involves a relentless cycle of work without proportionate rewards, resulting in a sense of futility and exhaustion.
The high cost of living, particularly in housing and raising a family, further exacerbates this
feeling of hopelessness. In Beijing, for instance, soaring house prices and stagnant wages have pushed many young people towards adopting a "Lie Flat" lifestyle, as they find the prospects of traditional life goals like homeownership and family increasingly unattainable.
Critically, it's essential to dispel the notion that the "Lie Flat" movement is about laziness.
Instead, it's a rational response to a system perceived as unrewarding and unfair. Young people are not just giving up; they are actively choosing a lifestyle that they find more sustainable and emotionally fulfilling in the face of overwhelming societal pressures.
Addressing the "Lie Flat" phenomenon requires an empathetic and comprehensive approach that goes beyond mere economic reforms. It's essential to foster an environment where diverse life choices are valued and respected. This involves redefining societal notions of success and fulfillment to recognize that they can manifest in various forms beyond traditional metrics like wealth accumulation and material possessions. Implementing policies to ensure fair wages, reasonable working hours, and improved living conditions, along with making housing more affordable, can significantly alleviate the pressures that drive the youth toward this movement.
Moreover, providing robust mental health support is crucial. Recognizing and addressing the
mental strain caused by intense societal pressures will empower young individuals to navigate their challenges more effectively. Such measures will not only provide immediate relief but also pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society, accommodating a diversity of aspirations and life paths. This holistic approach can help transform the current narrative of despair into one of hope and diverse opportunities.
The "Lie Flat" movement is not just a passive resignation from life's struggles; it's a conscious decision to seek contentment in simplicity amidst a rapidly changing socioeconomic landscape. It's a call for a societal reevaluation of what it means to lead a successful and fulfilling life. By understanding the root causes and addressing them, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society that accommodates a diversity of life paths and aspirations.
Your clarification that "Lie Flat" isn't about laziness but a rational response to an unrewarding system is crucial. It's a poignant commentary on the deeper socioeconomic issues faced by the youth, like "internal scrolling" and the unattainability of traditional life goals due to soaring living costs.
Your call for an empathetic approach and comprehensive reforms resonates strongly. Recognizing diverse life choices and redefining success beyond conventional metrics is pivotal. Your proposed policies, addressing fair wages, reasonable work hours, and affordable housing, offer a holistic solution to alleviate the pressures steering the youth toward the "Lie Flat" movement. This insightful analysis prompts us to rethink societal values and advocate for systemic changes that prioritize well-being over traditional markers of success.
I think that the name Lie Flat is very interesting and accurate way to describe this movement. This article is very interesting, and I really appreciate you giving an objective analysis of the situation and not jumping to label people as lazy. I think people generally can be expected to act in their own best interests, and without any incentives there is little reason for people to want to work hard. Leadership must address this situation and figure out how to re-incentivize the younger generations to continue working hard.
At first I thought the movement was taking a few moments a day to literally "lie flat," but now that I read this I realize what it's truly about. I think in most of the societies that are in the world today, it's relatively impossible to live a good life without being exploited. This is sort of a conflict I struggle with–because it goes both ways. With consumerism you have not only the exploitation of the buyer and human instinct, but you have the exploitation that the consumer indirectly encourages businesses to take part in. It's hard and the only way to avoid it is to literally lie flat and do nothing.
I think this is a very interesting concept, especially in our generation when everyone is striving to get the best corporate job possible, drive a nice car, marry well, build a family, etc. However, my only concern for the people who choose this route is this: if this is how they live their lives, what is their goal? What are they living for? I think if I personally considered this route, I would feel that my life is meaningless, in a way. (But, of course, these are just my personal thoughts.)