Marriage squeeze and mate selection – Analysing the ecology of choice and implications for social policy in China
Author
Summary, in English
The marriage squeeze in China, whereby the sex ratio imbalance leaves many males without a marriage partner, is not only about numbers, but also about how the institution of marriage is socially, economically, and politically underpinned. This paper uses the concept of ecology of choice in mate selection to demonstrate how different social processes and practices have ramifications on who can marry, who they can marry, and under what circumstances. It points to the historical and cultural practices of patrilineage, hypergamy, and concubinage, which contributed to a marriage squeeze long before the sex ratio at birth became an issue. It also examines how the policies of the Chinese Communist Party have affected social institutions related to marriage, reinforcing the marriage squeeze, and discusses the implications of this.
Department/s
Publishing year
2013
Language
English
Pages
62-69
Publication/Series
Economic and Political Weekly
Volume
48
Issue
35
Full text
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Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Economic and Political Weekly
Topic
- Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
Keywords
- ecology of choice
- mate selection
- sex ratio
- marriage squeeze
- social policy
- China
- sociologi
- sociology
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0012-9976