'Leftover' women face 'use-by' dates
By Victoria Fei |
August 22, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MARRIAGE is so important in China that women who are unmarried are often criticized and disparaged. One famous buzzword is shengnu, or "leftover women," meaning women who are older than 28 and still - gasp - unmarried. Their perceived shelf-life and "use-by" dates are expiring.
A survey released in March by the Yangpu District government covers both leftover women and men, 25 to 35 years old. Covering 1,000 people, it found that most have university degrees, work in offices, earn a stable salary and have what is considered high social status.
Government statistics showed that at the end of December, 64.5 percent of women residents in Yangpu between the ages of 25 and 27 were unmarried, and 77 percent of men the same age had not tied the knot.
For women aged 28 to 35, around 20 percent were unmarried and for men the same age almost 32 percent were unwed.
Almost half the respondents said unmarried men over age 35 should be considered leftover, and only around 10 percent said men should get married before age 30. Of the women respondents, 5.7 percent said only unmarried women over 40 years old should be considered "leftover."
Most people are more insistent that women get married younger. More than 80 percent of males surveyed said women should get married before age 30, or they would become "out of date." Among females surveyed, 20 percent said age 28 was the optimal marriage age for women, another 20 percent said 30 and another 20 percent said 32.
Small social circles and a lot of economic pressure were cited as the main cause for remaining single. But 12.4 percent of all participants, men and women, said they prefer staying at home and surfing the Internet.
Only 2.7 percent advocated the single life. "I don't have the time and energy to deal with getting married," says 31-year-old Wang Yu, who is unmarried. "I'm under a lot of pressure at work and I'm not motivated to take part in activities and get to know more people.
"I don't believe in any speed dating programs on TV or in real life. It's hard to tell the good from the bad and I'm afraid of trying," she adds.
The reasons women shy away from the dating game include the pressure to find a "perfect" man, a previous failed relationship, reluctance to leave the care of their own family, fear of family violence and fear of the difficulties of marriage itself, according to the survey.
Yangpu District is home to universities, high-tech enterprises and research and development centers where many young people are pursuing advanced degrees or working as technicians and entrepreneurs. They have little time for socializing.
Almost 60 percent of participants said they want to find a "soul mate." Almost 19 percent said they are not looking.
A survey released in March by the Yangpu District government covers both leftover women and men, 25 to 35 years old. Covering 1,000 people, it found that most have university degrees, work in offices, earn a stable salary and have what is considered high social status.
Government statistics showed that at the end of December, 64.5 percent of women residents in Yangpu between the ages of 25 and 27 were unmarried, and 77 percent of men the same age had not tied the knot.
For women aged 28 to 35, around 20 percent were unmarried and for men the same age almost 32 percent were unwed.
Almost half the respondents said unmarried men over age 35 should be considered leftover, and only around 10 percent said men should get married before age 30. Of the women respondents, 5.7 percent said only unmarried women over 40 years old should be considered "leftover."
Most people are more insistent that women get married younger. More than 80 percent of males surveyed said women should get married before age 30, or they would become "out of date." Among females surveyed, 20 percent said age 28 was the optimal marriage age for women, another 20 percent said 30 and another 20 percent said 32.
Small social circles and a lot of economic pressure were cited as the main cause for remaining single. But 12.4 percent of all participants, men and women, said they prefer staying at home and surfing the Internet.
Only 2.7 percent advocated the single life. "I don't have the time and energy to deal with getting married," says 31-year-old Wang Yu, who is unmarried. "I'm under a lot of pressure at work and I'm not motivated to take part in activities and get to know more people.
"I don't believe in any speed dating programs on TV or in real life. It's hard to tell the good from the bad and I'm afraid of trying," she adds.
The reasons women shy away from the dating game include the pressure to find a "perfect" man, a previous failed relationship, reluctance to leave the care of their own family, fear of family violence and fear of the difficulties of marriage itself, according to the survey.
Yangpu District is home to universities, high-tech enterprises and research and development centers where many young people are pursuing advanced degrees or working as technicians and entrepreneurs. They have little time for socializing.
Almost 60 percent of participants said they want to find a "soul mate." Almost 19 percent said they are not looking.
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