A new trend in China has young women paying around 50 yuan ($7) for five-minute hugs from men called “man mums.” These short meetings happen through chat apps and take place in public places like subway stations and shopping malls. The service gives emotional comfort during stressful times. Women pick their hug partners based on things like kindness, patience, body type, and looks. The term “man mum” first meant muscular men who go to the gym on Chinese social media. But now it means men who are both physically strong and gentle at the same time. These men give comforting hugs that are not sexual and help stressed people feel better. Most sessions cost between 20 to 50 yuan ($3 to $7) and last three to five minutes. The trend became popular after a stressed college student posted online about wanting to pay for a hug from a kind, fit man to help with her thesis stress. “I was hugged once in secondary school and felt safe. We can just hug for five minutes at an underground station,” she wrote, according to South China Morning Post. Her post went viral and got over 100,000 comments. This led to similar posts from women in big Chinese cities. Why young women are paying for hugs The rise of “man mums” shows bigger problems of stress and loneliness among young Chinese women. Research shows that around 85% of working women in China face mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and anger. These problems come from many things including tough job competition, too much work, and trying to balance work and personal life. The World Health Organization says 54 million people in China have depression, and young women are hit especially hard. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mo (@mo.of.everything) One woman talked about her time after working three hours of overtime. “The man gently patted my shoulder as I vented about my boss,” she said. The short meeting gave her unexpected relief. Another woman named Fox met her hug partner with coffee and a book. After their meeting, she said “what made me happier than the hug was the warmth from a stranger.” Like other viral trends that have spread across social media, the “man mums” thing spread fast on Chinese platforms. Zhou, someone who gives hugs and has done 34 of them, told the South China Morning Post that he has made 1,758 yuan ($250) from it. Many women say that paying for the hug makes things clearer and more respectful. It sets clear limits and expectations. The trend has gotten mixed reactions online. One person said “man mums offer a gentler, more comforting embrace than typical masculine types.” But others are worried. “Do not disguise physical desire as healing. Try doing volunteer work instead,” one person wrote. Su Dan, a lawyer from Hunan Gangwei Law Firm, warned that some people may use paid hugs to cover up sexual harassment. While this strange trend may look odd to some people, it shows the growing need for emotional support in modern Chinese society. As more people learn about mental health and traditional support systems struggle with fast-changing lifestyles, services like “man mums” have popped up to fill a gap in emotional care for stressed young workers.