Behind the stereotypes

Despite growing interest, the funeral industry is still often misunderstood. A common stereotype is that funeral workers are "overpaid for easy work", a misconception Li challenges by pointing out that the average salary in Hubei ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 yuan ($411.68 to $687.73).

"Our work requires us to be on call 24/7," Shen noted, emphasizing the demanding nature of the job. She recalled receiving a call from a family at 2 am while she was asleep but immediately responded with professional guidance.

Chen explained that some irregular practices within the industry may contribute to misconceptions about high earnings. For example, unlicensed funeral service companies may charge families high fees without providing proper service guarantees. Many people, unaware of how to find legitimate providers, often fall into these traps during difficult times.

"Every city has an official funeral hotline, but many families don't know about it," Chen explained.

Since 2022, Chen and his colleagues have been posting videos on social media platforms like Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) to introduce the funeral industry and address widespread misunderstandings.

On these platforms, Chen has noticed that some internet users hold other prejudices, such as associating the industry with bad luck. Some of his videos have even been taken down due to user complaints.

"However, I've seen a significant increase in public awareness of the funeral industry," Chen said, reflecting on the changes since he joined the field in 2017. "This shift is largely thanks to the efforts of online influencers and the way the industry has been portrayed in films and TV shows in recent years."