{
  "id": 6079064,
  "title": "Ancient roots: China pioneering sex therapist warns of rise of ‘relationship blind’ phenomenon",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/ancient-roots-china-pioneering-sex-therapist-warns-of-rise-of",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-07T01:12:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3366571/ancient-roots-china-pioneering-sex-therapist-warns-rise-relationship-blind-phenomenon"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sex therapist Tong Songzhen, originally from Taiwan, has observed a growing phenomenon she calls \"relationship blind,\" in which individuals struggle with intimacy and relationships due to gaps in education and communication. Tong, who has established practices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen since 2016, serves mainly clients aged 30 to 50, with 80% being men. She notes that women tend to experience more insecurity in intimate relationships, while men often seek help for sexual dysfunction. Her clientele includes highly educated individuals who lack fundamental sexual knowledge, such as two PhD holders who believed conception could occur merely by sharing a bed. Tong highlights that sex is not just about sexual organs but involves the body, psychology, and social relationships. She emphasizes that trust and openness are crucial for genuine intimacy, yet many relationships today lack these essential elements. Tong attributes this issue to insufficient sex education, communication, and relationship-building skills. She recounts a client who, after experiencing sexual harassment, was advised to wear more clothes to protect herself, leading her to gain weight to feel safe, all while lacking basic knowledge of intimate hygiene. Tong stresses that sex education should empower individuals to understand their bodies, respect others, establish boundaries, build trust, comprehend consent, and cultivate healthy relationships.",
  "summary": "Behind many sexual difficulties lie questions that extend far beyond the confines of the bedroom. After years of assisting clients in navigating issues of intimacy and relationships, one of China’s pioneering sex therapists has observed how gaps in education and communication shape individuals’ most private struggles. Originally from Taiwan, Tong Songzhen began her career as a nurse before…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Romanticised Mao myths rise among China’s youth as sanitised history leaves space for idealism",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/romanticised-mao-myths-rise-among-chinas-youth-as-sanitised-history",
        "published": "2026-09-06T23:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}