Greta Filén Hammarström, a 28-year-old woman from Sweden, has opted to lead the life of a housewife in China. After her husband got a job offer, she and her family moved to Nantong, enabling her to escape the stress of her previous job as a preschool teacher in Sweden.
Greta devotes her days to taking care of the household, going to language classes, working out, and spending time with her three-year-old daughter. She relishes the more relaxed pace of life, the chance to cook proper meals, and the opportunity to engage in activities that give her a sense of fulfillment.
This new way of life she has adopted has been given a label – the “soft girl” lifestyle. It promotes a more traditional and feminine way of living for women who are attracted to this concept.
Some people claim that this lifestyle is anti – feminist as it seems to encourage women to be financially dependent on their male partners. However, Greta doesn’t view it as a snare. She points out that she has a university degree, pension savings, and her own financial security to rely on.
Since moving to China, Greta has been sharing her life on TikTok, where she has encountered both curiosity and criticism. A lot of the negative responses are due to her decision to live in China. She admits that she is part of a small Swedish expatriate community and may not be experiencing what many consider the “real China”. Nevertheless, she feels safe in her daily life in China.
In the future, Greta and her family intend to return to Sweden in 2027. Although she enjoys her present lifestyle, she is aware that both she and her husband will likely have to work once they are back in Sweden, especially considering the increasing cost of living.
