A U.S. user of mobile app RedNote, known as Xiaohongshu in China, shared how the Chinese social media platform has widened her perspective on American society, particularly in regards to issues like healthcare and maternity leave.
With the deepening of cultural exchanges between Chinese and American RedNote users, the differences between the two countries in areas such as housing, work, education and medical care have become the focus of public attention.
Speaking with China Global Television, the U.S. RedNote user said she was surprised to learn about lower costs for healthcare and higher education in China, as because as Americans they are constantly told, "You have it so much better, be happy."
"I do feel blessed and happy to be here. But now that I'm having a way broader view of everyone, I'm really seeing how we're mistreated. One of the things that stood out was maternity leave. Over there, that's held as a really big, important part of their culture and community, even within the workplace. And here, a lot of times we are penalized for needing time off to go to a hospital or a surgery or anything. So most of us are working with whatever we have wrong with us, just hoping it doesn't flare up, (that) kind of thing, and everyone has just run out of patience with it," she said.
She also highlighted that the ways China is portrayed in U.S. media often differs starkly from the realities she has learned about from Chinese RedNote users.
"I think the biggest thing is, and I hate to say it, but just the overall knowledge is not great here. And from propaganda when you think of China, you think of a poor country, you think of a lot of crime, and now that I've seen day-to-day life, it's so much safer than anywhere I've seen here. It's just a completely opposite society right now, and I loved seeing that. I love learning about a lot of their healthcare, the Chinese medicine. I'm really into learning that right now," she said.
RedNote reshapes US user's views on China
RedNote reshapes US user's views on China
