In China, marriage is all about love, but love of what? It seems that for many Chinese women (and their families), love of money may be more important than love of the man they marry. An NPR article, For Chinese Women, Marriage Depends on the Right 'Bride Price,' discusses how young Chinese men are growing up in a society where they must buy a bride and there's been serious bride inflation over the past decade.
 |
| Traditional marriage in China |
It's not the same for the young women who may realize that statistics are seriously in their favor - 117 baby boys born for every 100 girls, leading to a 24 million bride deficit by 2020 according to the article. Some of these young women are obviously aware of their market value and are holding out for the best deal they can negotiate. I'm sure it's not just the young women, but also their parents and other family members, putting pressure on them to get the highest possible price in return for their marriage commitment.
 |
| Modern marriage in China? |
In a society that long subjugated woman, forcing them to bind (and deform) their feet and treating them as property (of their father until marriage and husband thereafter), it may be a form of ironic revenge that Chinese women are now taking advantage of their economic appreciation. In response to the unfavorable balance of trade for Chinese men, women are being increasingly imported as brides from other countries such as Vietnam.
 |
| Importing bide from Vietnam |
Posts
