Survey: Chinese women changes attitude toward marriage ( 2003-09-21 08:12) (People's Daily)
Many high-income professional women remain single
A survey in Beijing indicates that 50.2 percent of those women with a monthly
salary of 5,000--15,000 yuan remain single.
The survey shows that there are five reasons for this: firstly, 48.3 percent
of them are economically independent and unnecessary to depend on men; secondly,
6.5 percent are busy with their work; thirdly, 12.2 percent are too outstanding
to find superior male partners; fourthly, 23.4 percent distrust the existence of
true feelings; fifthly, 9.6 percent for other reasons.
Two lovers hold a
western-style marriage ceremony in Beijing September 6, 2003.
[newsphoto.com.cn]
Seeing sexual life as important, unafraid of divorce
According to a survey conducted among the women in Chengdu city, Sichuan
Province, over 80 percent women surveyed attach importance to the quality of
sexual life, the ratio exceeds 95 percent among those with a college education
level and above. Relatively speaking, the middle-aged and old people, deeply
influenced by traditions, hold the traditional concept of sex.
Change in attitude toward cohabitation
In the 1980s, cohabitation between unmarried man and woman was a shameful act
in people's eyes. Nowadays, however, over 80 percent of the women surveyed adopt
an indifferent attitude, thinking that it is not necessarily to have a "marriage
certificate" as long as a couple love each other.
First-generation daughter raises harsh conditions for choosing
spouse
Such conditions include high schooling record, good-looking and a promising
future. If one's educational level is very average, he must be rich; if one is
not rich and well-educated, he must be handsome, have specialized techniques and
be willing to do household chores. When going to the matrimonial agency, these
girls are usually accompanied by their parents, and the matrimonial requirements
are listed by parents. These young girls have never cared about their own
business, and so their parents will not let them decide their own marriage.
Views on child-bearing age
According to the women surveyed, 35.22 percent "thought it bad for women not
having given birth to a child before the age of 30 because of their declining
physical conditions"; 4.54 percent "thought it bad, because it will be laborious
to rear a child later"; 19.31 percent thought what is discussed above is "not a
problem at all" and 40.90 percent thought that it is "understandable even if one
does not give birth to a child".
Three-members family no longer the main form
The survey indicates that the choice of family form presents the pattern of
one decline and three rises, that is, compared with the survey conducted in
1997, the ratio of people choosing a nucleus family (a couple plus a child)
drops 11.3 percent, those choosing DINK family, celibacy and directly-related
families rise 1.1 percent, 3.9 percent and 6.1 percent respectively.
Young and middle-aged women suffer stimulated insomnia
Nowadays, people suffer more and more serious insomnia. According to a sample
survey conducted by the Chinese Academy of Medicine in 2002 about the incidence
of insomnia, 35 percent young women in Shanghai suffer insomnia, and the
incidence is still rising rapidly.
Gynecological diseases threaten young women
According to the survey about gynecological diseases conducted by the Tianjin
Women Healthcare Hospital in 2002 among 16,700 women aged 20-29, 8.3 percent of
them contract infectious gynecological diseases, 14.8 percent contract chronic
cervicitis, 0.17 percent contract benign tumors, 7.5 percent contract diseases
of mammary gland, 0.012 percent contract malignant tumor, 0.06 percent contract
venereal diseases. Experts say that more women in a younger average age contract
gynecological diseases than ever, but they don't pay enough attention to their
own health.
Over 70 percent women encounter sexual harassment
A survey among Beijingers indicates that women are the main objects of sexual
harassment. 71 percent of those surveyed have encountered sexual harassment, of
whom 54 percent have heard pornographic jokes, 29 percent have the addiction of
exposure, 27 percent have experienced unwilling body touch with others, 8
percent have been peeped and 2 percent have received harassment
phone.
