Fallen Flowers Thick Leaves

Hongli is a Chinese sexologist who meets women of all ages at her practice in Beijing Although the stories are wideranging all her clients are struggling with the expectations of society Thirtytwoyearold Wenwen for example is an attractive and successful single woman but she is viewed as a leftover if a woman hasnt found a man by her 30th birthday she has missed the proverbial boat Her parents are deeply ashamed What did they do wrong Beijing may look modern but the traditional mores affecting women of all ages and classes are very oldfashioned In Fallen Flowers Thick Leaves women talk candidly about being married to a man they dont love about being lesbian and finding acceptance about cautious feminism and about those who in utter desperation and shame at their failed love life decide to become nuns To what extent do ancient traditions the Cultural Revolution and the modern economy affect the social status of modern Chinese women