Love(less) In China: Why Aren’t Young Chinese Getting Married? | Insight | Full Episode

1,028,524
0
Published 2023-08-29
Marriage rates in China are at an all-time low. With the country facing an ageing society, low birth rates and a shrinking population, Chinese leaders hope to turn this around. Insight examines the changing attitudes of young Chinese towards marriage and having kids.

Compared to previous generations, why are young Chinese much less keen on the social model of settling down, buying property, and starting a family? How does higher education among women, changing conservative values and a flagging economy factor into marriage? And is there anything that can be done to reverse this trend?

0:00 Introduction
2:38 Changing views on marriage
10:17 Is One-Child Policy to blame for marriage decline?
12:57 Moonlight clan: living paycheck-to-paycheck
18:58 “996” – Impact on marriage in China
22:07 Changing gender roles
25:06 Finding love with dating apps
28:55 Traditional matchmaking sees revival
36:45 What falling nuptials mean for China
38:20 Can China raise marriage rates?

===============
ABOUT THE SHOW: Insight investigates and analyses topical issues that impact Asia and the rest of the world.
==========================
#CNAInsider #CNAInsight #Marriage #China


For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER
cna.asia/insideryoutubesub

Follow CNA INSIDER on:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/cnainsider/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cnainsider/
Website: cna.asia/cnainsider

All Comments (21)
  • @yunyung
    A simple and straightforward reason why young people around the world these days do not want to marry is because they are well-educated. They know that bringing a life into this world and ensuring the child a healthy upbringing takes more than money. It takes stability in every aspects, courage and most importantly confidence. Within a fast paced society, are you confident that you can take good care of your child?
  • East Asia: 996 work culture is necessary. Also, East Asia: Why is nobody having children?
  • @ivyzhou-nx7cd
    As a chinese woman,i was bron in a family which prefer boy.I went through hard childhood,high school(including i had to take care my younger brother,if he get hurt i would be hit by my grandma,when i am studying in school ,asked my mom for money,she will told me our family how poor i have to save etc).Now i have my salary and live alone. This is my life first i have myself room and money,i don't need worry will be blamed by parents and teachers.i don't believe any guy,also don't end my happy life.
  • @RelaxWorld975
    The fact is that teenagers in China during their adolescence are strongly prohibited from puppy love by their parents but pushed to marry someone with similar financial situation after graduating from the universities.
  • @jstrom.ph5
    Who wants to get married and have a baby in this economy??? I barely made it out of poverty. I'll never have kids until I have my own house. I don't want to subject my child to the exact circumstances I did. That's why it's so necessary to choose your partner responsibly.
  • @peekapeeka6482
    'Women are looking for love, men are looking for a wife' - that's actually such a unique way of putting it.
  • @allythearts5439
    Some people witnessed their own parents marriage and is like yeahhh I don't want that 😂. Some may be running from past horrible dating/relationships. Others just came to the conclusion why stress over a person who may not really take whatever marriage agreement as serious.
  • @jakefang9782
    I was born in China and immigrated to Canada when I was 16. All the voice around me when I grew up was "get married and have kids". When I reached my mid-20s I started to re-evaluate a lot of my beliefs. And as of marriage I'm like ..... Nah I don't think its for me ..... Don't get me wrong, I still want a partner, but not marriage.
  • @bakerkawesa
    Older generations like to blame young people for the social crises they [the older people] pass onto them [the young people]. It is cruel to have children in uncertain times.
  • @vivianfoster702
    You know what kills freedom and happiness? Chinese parents. What’s worst? Having Chinese in laws too. They have no boundaries and never stop meddling. Once you have a baby, the Chinese mother and in law think it’s their child, not yours. Stay single!
  • @1101G12646
    This is actually the reality of most developed country , not just China. Falling in love is now difficult because the world complexity is increasing. Our access to information is higher than ever, and the idea of marriage being a sacred thing is eroded
  • @NairaSt
    I was studying in university and my classmate was from China . She told me that being single is the best option for her . First, she is the only child in her family and needs to support financially her parents when they’ll get old Second, in Asia , woman has to take care of his parents as well . That’s too much pressure Third , she was traumatized, Chinese children have too much pressure in their life . Getting good grades , studying non stop and etc
  • @maywalker997
    One of my friends (Chinese) said to me that she doesn't want to marry because to afford a wedding you need your future in-laws to contribute to the costs, however, this also means that from the very day you marry you are already in debt to your in-laws (and she doesn't want that).
  • @MrWaterbugdesign
    This is happening in all countries with increasing wealth. When poor men and women marry to reduce risk of starving. Two can live cheaper than one. When people earn good incomes the risk of starving goes away and marriage becomes optional. People become more picky and many see having to share a living space and life as a negative. Marriage has always been about money and is no longer needed. A person has to give up most of their life to marry and that loss of freedom is no longer worthwhile.
  • @dian277
    there're other important factors aside from what's mentioned in the video, like children aren't allowed to date until they get into college, which cause them to delay learning from how to date or socialize with the opposite gender romantically without the financial/life pressure, and when they are allowed they have all these life pressure and they would be struggeling.  The gov also made questionable changes in the law, like when they were promoting the 1-child policy they were handing out abortions like candie or forcing it by punishing those who tried to have more, and were telling people that the gov would help cover the care for the parents when they get old to compensate for not having enough children. Now they're shaming 1-child households, and are not gonna help the old parents who were forced to only have 1 child, so those children now are having to take care of 2 elderlies and are pressured to care for multiple children. Anyone in their right mind would be rejecting, unless they're born rich and powerful. Plus the gov aren't helping with child care either, they just trying to take from the citizens without at least being responsible for what they ask for.  Another thing is the difficulty of finding a stable job, those who have a 996 are actually the fortunate one, many other college grads can't even find a job. Many with a masters or phd are doing food deliveries after they graduate.
  • @dharami4450
    Getting married is a choice as well as having a family. Honestly raising a single child cost a lot, it's hard to settle down if both you and your partner is not yet financially ready.
  • @harveyjames7927
    I'm Malaysian and working in Hunan, China.. My coworkers told me that in order to get married, the men must have a house and a car.. For me that is acceptable but when he told me about the dowry here.. Wow.. It Shocked to the core.. The dowry alone can be up to 360k RMB.. And that is not including the wedding party etc.. No wonder men are reluctant to get married soon..
  • @xiphoid2011
    As a first gen Chinese American, I'm fortunate enough to study in the US, all gfs were fellow students, married my classmate in graduate school and now we have 3 kids. Although my parents had tried to arrange me with their friend's daughters, thank god I can just tell my prents to butt out. It's better to have loved and lost than not loved at all. Glad I didnt have go through the depressing process in China.
  • @naomihu9399
    Because for women in China (and probably most countries in the world) getting married has very little or no benefit, but loads of sacrifices on career & other opportunities. 😂I’m an only child Chinese, I don’t live in China right now, and I have a very healthy relationship. But never had I ever thought about getting married (at least not in the near future). Honestly my business is my biggest hobby, it brings so much joy & sense of accomplishment & of course financial abundance. I can’t imagine giving all of these away and taking care of a family and having bunch of kids.