DeepSummary
In 2021, a popular Chinese live streamer known as 'Little Kitty' hinted at taking her own life during a livestream and was later found dead, sparking outrage over cyberbullying. However, the case took a strange turn when it was revealed that three men had stolen Little Kitty's remains with the intention of marrying her ghost as part of a practice called 'ghost marriage'.
The concept of 'ghost marriage' stems from the belief that if someone dies unmarried, their soul will be lonely in the afterlife. To prevent this, some cultures facilitate ceremonies where the deceased is 'married' to another deceased person or even a living person. This practice can become exploitative, with cases of human trafficking and murder to obtain bodies for ghost brides.
The episode delves into the dark underworld surrounding the trade of dead bodies for ghost marriages in China, including cases where people were killed specifically to be sold as ghost brides. It explores the cultural context, economics, and criminal aspects of this disturbing practice.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The 'ghost marriage' practice stems from cultural beliefs about ensuring the deceased are not alone in the afterlife, but has become exploited into a criminal underworld of human trafficking and murder.
- Economic factors like China's former one-child policy exacerbated gender imbalances and created a demand for 'ghost brides', fueling the illegal trade of dead bodies.
- Cases like that of the influencer 'Little Kitty' and woman 'Mae' highlight how vulnerability, mental illness, and gender-based violence intersect with this disturbing practice.
- The cultural contexts and specific dynamics surrounding ghost marriages vary across regions, but often involve the commodification of women's bodies even after death.
- While some ghost marriage ceremonies are more benign, the economics of supply and demand have driven criminal elements to commit murder to obtain bodies to sell as brides.
- Authorities have cracked down on the illegal trade, but ghost matchmakers showed little remorse, driven by the lucrative profits in this illicit industry preying on the bereaved.
- The case reveals the continuities of misogyny and exploitation of women's bodies across various cultural contexts and time periods.
- The episode prompts reflection on how certain cultural beliefs and societal factors can enable or perpetuate abusive practices against vulnerable groups.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Mae's dad had been talking to the police to talk about how he hadn't heard from his daughter in a really long time. They started investigating, and what they found was really, really nefarious.“ by Ramble
- “Even after little kittys death. Z posted 'please stop thinking that the dead are superior. Stop spreading rumors. Like I said, I will take full legal responsibility for everything that ive said online.'“ by Ramble
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Episode Information
Rotten Mango
Stephanie Soo & Ramble
5/7/23