Marriage in China has undergone change during the country's economic reform period, especially as a result of new legal policies such as the New Marriage Law of 1950 and the family planning policy in place from 1979 to 2015. The major transformation in the twentieth century is characterized by the change from traditional structures for Chinese marriage, such as arranged marriage, to one where the freedom to choose one’s partner is generally respected. However, both parental and cultural pressures are still placed on many individuals, especially women, to choose socially and economically advantageous marriage partners.[1] In 2023, China had 7.68 million marriages.[2] While divorce remains rare in China, the 1.96 million couples applying for divorce in 2010 represented a rate 14% higher than the year before and doubled from ten years ago.[3] Despite this rising divorce rate, marriage is still thought of as a natural part of the life course and as a responsibility of good citizenship in China.[4]
- ^ Zhang, Jun; Sun, Peidong (2014). "When are you Going to Get Married". Wives, Husbands, and Lovers: Marriage and Sexuality in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Urban China. Stanford University Press: 119.
- ^ "China: Marriages rise for the first time in nine years". BBC News. 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ Patience, Martin (2 November 2011). "' Love Post' tackles China's rising divorce rate". BBC News.
- ^ Kam, Lucetta Yip Lo (2012). "Shanghai Lalas: Female Tongzhi Communities and Politics in Urban China". Queer Asia: 59.