In China, a new trend among young workers called 'rat people' has emerged, showcasing individuals lounging in bed all day, embracing a lifestyle of doing nothing. This phenomenon is a continuation of the 'lying flat' movement, which reassesses work ethics in the face of excessive demands from the 996 work culture. As unemployment rises among millennials and Gen Z, many express pride in being a dependent and question the value of traditional employment, sparking societal concerns amid economic struggles.
"I refuse to be ashamed of being a dependent, I'm defending the name of the rat people," one young woman says in a montage of what she calls her 83rd day lounging in her bedroom.
"After three years of hard work, I finally got my parents to realize that holding a job wasn't building wealth for myself," she adds.
"Lying flat was: 'I might not be doing anything, not working a 9-to-5, but still doing things that I like,'" says Ophenia Liang, director of Digital Crew.
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