Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

The definition of a successful Chinese woman? It’s wealth, not marriage

“Hide your bag if it’s not a Hermès.”: A recent study from research firm Bernstein has analysed how Chinese television shows have impacted female consumers in the country – it’s changing what it means to be a successful woman.

In Nothing but Thirty, one of the main characters was cropped from a picture for carrying a Chanel bag. A recent study has analysed how Chinese television shows have impacted female consumers in the country.

“Hide your bag if it’s not a Hermès.”

In a now classic scene in Chinese television series Nothing but Thirty, one of the main characters was cropped out of a group picture with a group of wealthy housewives at a social event. The reason? She was carrying a Chanel 2.55 flap bag, which costs around €4,000 (US$4,800), while the others came with Hermès Birkin or Kelly bags, which start at €10,000.

The character eventually won approval from the ladies, and subsequent business opportunities, after she bought a blue ostrich leather Birkin.

After that pivotal moment in the show went viral last year, it started a discussion on social media about people’s perceptions of Chanel and Hermès, long considered the two most prestigious luxury fashion and accessories brands.

A recent study by research firm Bernstein analysed how Chinese television shows have impacted female consumers in the country.

As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, China has experienced an unprecedented rise in prosperity during the past 40 years. “Chinese television series have evolved as a mirror of society, moving wealth and money to a centre stage position,” the study finds.

According to the report, the country has seen a rise in female consumers. Women started to dominate the market in 2018, accounting for 71 per cent of luxury consumption, with women aged 26-35 seen as the core group in the luxury market.

The researchers say this stems from the high proportion of women in the workforce in China. Their purchasing power has increased as they have received higher education and higher income. They are willing to spend money to reward themselves for hard work and personal accomplishment.

“[The luxury brands] serve the function of supporting people’s identity. Consumers buy luxury products because they feel they are elevating themselves by owning something which is special, exclusive and desirable,” the study says.


According to the report, China has seen a rise of female consumers.


Bernstein mentions that audiences not only look up to television role models for fashion advice, they also draw attitudes to their career and life from them.

Researchers have observed that television dramas in recent years have become more focused on wealth or materialism as the country has seen a switch in the definition of a successful woman– from “marrying well” to “be the architect of your own success”.

“Many of the female role models in Chinese television series in recent years have something in common: they are young, beautiful, well-educated and financially independent,” the researchers write.


Researchers believe consumption is a way for Chinese women to relieve their stress and anxiety.


A classic example of a role model would be a single woman who owns property as she has accumulated wealth through her well-paid job in the business field. She wears fashionable clothes from luxury brands and leads a westernised lifestyle as a gym-goer and salad lover.

Researchers believe that Chinese women face tremendous pressure as they try to meet society’s expectations of a successful woman. Elegance, beauty, marrying well and building a happy family must come together with a thriving professional life and career, making consumption a way for them to relieve their stress and anxiety.

The study also suggests that experiences, as opposed to material goods, are becoming more important. Activities including diving, skydiving and skiing are becoming increasingly popular.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Trump Says Ukraine Can Fully Restore Borders with NATO Backing
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Germany Weighs Excluding France from Key European Fighter Jet Programme
Cyberattack Disrupts Check-in and Boarding Systems at Major European Airports
Björn Borg Breaks Silence: Memoir Reveals Addiction, Shame and Cancer Battle
When Extremism Hijacks Idealism: How the Baader-Meinhof Gang Emerged and Fell
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
Trump Orders $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas and Launches ‘Gold Card’ Immigration Pathway
France’s Looming Budget Crisis and Political Fracture Raise Fears of Becoming Europe’s “Sick Man”
Three Russian MiG-31 Jets Breach Estonian Airspace in ‘Unprecedentedly Brazen’ NATO Incident
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
×