Boys will be boys

As I’ve mentioned in the past, things in China are more gender segregated than they are in the U.S., so until now, my opportunities to observe young Chinese males in their natural habitat have been fairly limited. My recent trip to Hangzhou changed that for me. I was lucky enough to stay with friends of friends, who just happened to be twenty-something guys living on their own. It was truly an enlightening experience. Here’s what you need to know about Chinese boys.

Like American boys, Chinese boys enjoy watching basketball, listening to music, and playing video games. The NBA is especially popular here. Because an evening game in the U.S. translates to an early morning game in China, it is not uncommon for a committed Chinese fan to wake up early to watch the game in real time. Lebron James (“Jay-mee-suh”), Kobe Bryant (“Kuh-bee”), and of course Yao Ming (“Yao Ming”) enjoy an especially large following here.

In addition to these more traditional pastimes, Chinese guys also enjoy sharing seduction techniques and flaunting the law by downloading pornography—illegal in this country. I’m not especially versed in the pornographic preferences of American males, but I have to say that Chinese guys seem to have a well-rounded collection, including flicks from the U.S., Russia, Korea, and Japan, in addition to domestically produced films. Because there is no formal sex-ed in China, the fundamentals of intercourse are learned by frequent viewings of these educational aides.

In addition to their worldly tastes in erotica, Chinese boys are different from American boys in their affection for one another. Unlike in the U.S., where anything more than a friendly punch is socially unacceptable, Chinese boys enjoy the occasional hug or a casual hand on the shoulder. Or thigh.

A cigarette is also a must-have accessory for the hip Chinese male.

In fact, a pack of smokes and a lighter make up the majority of the contents of the ever-popular “man bag”.

While certain aspects of Chinese male culture would certainly not fly in the U.S., I find that despite these minor surface differences, boys really are all the same. It all boils down to sports, video games, girls, and a universal hatred of doing laundry. Be honest. Are you surprised?

I’m not.