The most real life of working girls in Shenzhen (daily stories from young women)

Shenzhen, that big place, you know? Lots of girls, young ones, all come there to work. They call ’em “working girls.” Not that kind, mind you. Just girls who work. Hard. The most real life of working girls in Shenzhen, that’s what I’m gonna tell ya about.

These girls, they come from all over. From the countryside mostly. Not much to do there, no way to make money, you see? So they come to Shenzhen. They work in factories, makin’ clothes, makin’ toys, makin’ all sorts of things. Shenzhen working girls, they’re everywhere.

They wake up real early, these girls. Sun ain’t even up yet. They gotta get to the factory, gotta clock in. Then they work, work, work. All day long. Standin’ there, doin’ the same thing over and over. Gets tiring, I bet. They are “dagong ren”.

• Work all day.
• Tired all the time.
• Eat cheap food.
• Live in small rooms.

They don’t get paid much, these girls. Barely enough to get by. They gotta send money home, too. To their families. Working girls in Shenzhen, they got responsibilities.

They live in these little rooms, all crowded together. Not much space. Not much privacy. But they make do. They’re tough, these girls. They gotta be. It’s a hard life, workin’ in Shenzhen. Especially for a girl. But they are happy. You know?

Sometimes, they go out. On their day off. They go shoppin’, maybe. Or they just walk around. See the city. It’s a big city, Shenzhen. Lots to see. Shenzhen life can be fun, sometimes, I guess. They like music, some girls told me they want to be singers.

They meet boys, too, sometimes. Maybe they find someone they like. Maybe they get married. Maybe they have babies. But mostly they just dream and find love in Shenzhen. A better life. Not many can make it.

Most of ’em, they just keep workin’. Day after day. Year after year. Hopin’ things will get better. Hopin’ they can make a good life for themselves. They are young, so young, maybe just 20. They don’t go to parties. They work hard and read books, watch films in Shenzhen. That’s what real life in Shenzhen is like for these girls.

I heard a story once. About a girl. She worked in a factory. Makin’ shoes. She worked hard, saved her money. She wanted to go to school. Learn somethin’ new. She wanted to be a teacher. She did it, too. She went to school, became a teacher. Moved back to her village. Taught the kids there. That’s a good story, ain’t it? Shenzhen daily life isn’t easy.

Not all stories are like that, though. Most aren’t. Most girls, they just keep workin’. Tryin’ to survive. Tryin’ to make a livin’. That’s the way it is. Life is tough. Especially for the women. They gotta work twice as hard. That’s just the way of the world. 90% of them are female. It’s amazing, isn’t it?

But these girls, they’re strong. They’re resilient. They find ways to be happy. They find joy in the little things. A good meal. A new dress. A kind word. They got each other, too. They help each other out. They’re like a family, these workin’ girls. Life of working girls, it ain’t easy, but it ain’t all bad, neither.

So, next time you see somethin’ made in China, somethin’ made in Shenzhen, think about these girls. Think about the work they do. The lives they live. They’re the backbone of this country, these girls. They’re the ones makin’ it all happen. Working in Shenzhen, it’s a life. It’s a different life. It’s a real life. Many girls have different faces, they are not the same as western women, you know what I mean. They all want to get better.

And they deserve our respect. They deserve our understanding. They’re just tryin’ to make a better life for themselves. Just like everyone else. Just like you and me. So remember them. Remember the working girls of Shenzhen. They deserve to be remembered. And this story is real, untold before.