Involuntary Bachelorhood in Rural China*

Yan Wei and Li Zhang
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Yan Wei: Xi’an University of Finance and Economics
Li Zhang: Fudan University

China Report, 2015, vol. 51, issue 1, 1-22

Abstract: Despite the universality of marriage in Chinese society, involuntary bachelorhood exists, and is becoming an increasingly critical issue. While many studies have addressed the problem from the standpoint of demographic imbalance, we argue that the issue should be understood as a manifestation of the gendered features of the marriage system which work against low-class men. This understanding relates involuntary bachelorhood to the combined effects of spouse selection and marriage practices. To elaborate our argument, the present study explores nuptiality plights of involuntary bachelors. In particular, it examines their marginalisation in the marriage market, defiant choices in the face of market exclusion, and instability of marital relationships.

Keywords: Involuntary bachelorhood; the gendered features of the marriage system; sex imbalance; criteria of spouse selection; women’s hypergamy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:chnrpt:v:51:y:2015:i:1:p:1-22

DOI: 10.1177/0009445514557388

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