Changes in the conception of marriage in China

Abstract

Chinese modernization influenced public views on marriage. Improved education, democratization, women's emancipation, economic development, and the new emphasis on one’s self-actualization were the main factors that influenced marriage relationships. Changing attitudes and behaviors are a challenge to societal stability. Young people seem to turn away from previous traditions, conceiving marriage as an economic alliance, and look for romantic love and intimacy. Using the data from the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) of China, this paper explores the resulting gender disparities, the improvements in education and the parallel increase in divorce rates, decrease in marriage rates and birth rates, as indicators of the changing conceptions on intimate relationships and marriage.