Family & Marriage----Present and Past UK and China

Comparison between present and the past:

1. Delayed marriage: *Educational: educated population is increasing

* Occupational: working people especially professional

workers

Median age at first marriage in Hong Kong

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996Year

Age

Male

Female

Source: Demographic Trends in Hong Kong, 1971-82 & 1981-1996

2. Premarital sex on the rise

Influence of mass media Changes of social values

3. Cohabitation —fulfilling intimacy need Some will

eventually marry Test their

compatibility for marriage

As a lifestyle: free from family responsibility

QUESTION: What’s your view on cohabitation?

Nowadays, more and more youth opt for cohabitation, say, university students of opposite sex rent to live together….

So , What’s your view on cohabitation? Do you…. A. approve B. disapprove C. do not care ?

4. Living alone—a lifestyle

“Unmarried aristocrats”

How many of you would probably choose to lead a single life?

5. Divorce rate on the rise: Fundamental causes :

1. People value the quality of marriage

2. Social reforms—leave home for job—long time separation

3. Raise of women’s social status—independent

4. Logic: love -beauty – temporary& fragile=>love can not last forever=>families which are based solely on love are to end ultimately.

5. Divorce rate on the rise:

Direct causes (in the case of Chinese people):

• Simplification of procedures • People tend to take an usual attitude

towards divorce nowadays

6. Employed mothers: Out of necessity; husband’s income not

enough Want a better living standard: double income Define careers as self-fulfillments

Among all the changes, the increase of working mothers is the most significant. It redefines the sexual role of both men and women, and leads to the so called women’s liberation and thus men’s.

10

20

30

40

5060

70

80

90

100

1961 1971 1981 1991 1998

Male

Female

Female 15-19

Female 20-24Female 25-34 Female 35-44

Female labor force participation rate in HK

Comparison between British and Chinese F&M

1.Love OR Expression?• British people value love

more than Chinese people?

• No! The difference lies in economy. i.e. Living standard

• But there are differences in the way they show their affections

死鬼

讨厌

I Love U

2. Which relation is more valued:

Husband-wife relationship OR parents-children relationship?

British (western world): husband-wife relationship

Chinese: parents-child relationship (Examples) In the process of social transition, Chinese

people are attaching more importance to husband-wife relationship

3. Home Education& Child Rearing:

Western countries-pay more attention on children’s independence;

Chinese-parents tend to control or instruct Western countries-tend to promote

children’s creativity and gregariousness; Chinese-moral values Chinese: High expectation --conflicts about

children’s academic achievements

references

http://psyche.netbig.com/sex/s5/1974/20001030/77001.htm

http://wy.cnii.com.cn/20040315/ca261334.htm http://www.cpirc.org.cn/news/rkxw_gn_detail.asp? id=46

83 《中国婚姻家庭变迁》 ，刘达临等著，中国社会出版社 < Marriage and Family- The Quest for Intimacy fourth edition > R

obert H. Lauer