Marriage and Family in China Marriage Law of

Marriage and Family in China

Marriage Law of 1950 • The very first law promulgated by the People’s Republic of China (1949 - ) • abolished arranged marriage • abolished polygamy • right to divorce – 214, 000 cases of divorce in 1986 – 1, 665, 000 cases of divorce in 2004

Maoist era (1949 – 1976) • penetration of state into society – sweeping mass campaigns

Maoist era (1949 – 1976) • transformation of “feudal” social customs – establish new loyalty to Mao and to CCP

“Socialist New Man” • • communist ideals socialist moral culture and education discipline

“Socialist New Man” • “serve the people” – Lei Feng (1940 – 1962)

“Socialist New Customs”

“Women hold up half the sky”

“Women hold up half the sky”

post-Mao era (1977 – present) • gradual retreat of the state from society and family – except in implementing family planning policy • change in values – materialism and individualism – Western influence – revival of traditions

population pressure

family planning policy • “Family planning promotes economic development!”

family planning policy • “It’s good to have only one child!”

family planning policy • “It’s a basic state policy!”

family planning policy • “Girls are as good as boys!”

materialism

A 1999 survey of rural youth • • 3 factors in choosing a spouse: congenial to each other (49. 8%) smart and capable (49. 2%) education level (37. 9%) gentle and considerate (32. 9%) honest and reliable (28. 6%) health (28%)

A survey in Nanjing in 2006 • When choosing a spouse do you consider whether s/he has housing? (83% “yes”) • Who should provide the housing? – both 55%; husband 44%; wife 1% • 18% would marry even without housing • What role do your parents play? – parents will decide 4%

“Where did Lei Feng go? ” • “serve the people? ” • results from surveys on university campuses

Western influence

a survey of urban youth in 1998 • • Which region’s music do you like most? Hong Kong 63. 5% mainland China 60. 8% U. S. A. 36. 9% Taiwan 29. 0% Japan 19. 5% India 12. 8%

a survey of urban youth in 1998 • Which region’s movies and TV programs do you like most? • Hong Kong 71. 7% • U. S. A. 62. 4% • mainland China 41. 0% • Taiwan 19. 9% • Japan 19. 7%

rise of the individual • pre-Mao era – loyalty to family, father, and ancestors • Maoist era – new loyalty to socialist collectives – new loyalty to the Party and Mao • post-Mao era – state loosens control of private life