Discrepancies in Cross‐Cultural and Cross‐Generational Attitudes Toward Committed Relationships in China and the United States

• Author: Yishan Xu,Bailey L. Ocker
• Published date: 01 October 2013
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12055
• Date: 01 October 2013

DISCREPANCIES IN CROSS-CULTURAL AND CROSS-GENERATIONAL

ATTITUDES TOWARD COMMITTED RELATIONSHIPS IN

CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES

Yishan Xu and Bailey L. Ocker

Over the past 5,000 years, marriage and family structure in China have changed dramatically due to extensive economic

development and cultural transformation. The revisions to marriage law, the reform resulting in open trade with other nations

(especially Westernones), the single-child policy, and the consistent respect for Confucianism across time all contributed to the

unique dynamics that characterize Chinese family life today. But, despite the drastic changes in family life in the Eastern

hemisphere, most marriage and family-related studies have been conducted in Western cultures. Thus, tremendous opportu-

nities for both similar and innovative inquiry about family life in Eastern cultures currently exist. China provides a unique

opportunity for investigation of this topic due to the country’s rich historical background and culture of tradition. Weexplored

the generational differences in individuals’ attitudes toward marriage in China. Chinese college students and middle-aged

Chinese adults were recruited as participants. We found evidence that, with regard to attitudes about cohabitation, Chinese

elders are more conservative than Chinese youth. Moreover, middle-aged Chinese individuals report that Chinese youth have

differing opinions on some issues surrounding marriage, but these perceptions of the youth’s attitudes about specific issues

deviate from the youth’s actual opinions.

Keypoints for the Family Court Community

• Discusses important transitions in marriage throughout Chinese history.

• Points out unique marriage-related culture in ancient China and modern China.

• Presents interesting data addressing different marital attitude among older Chinese population and Chinese youth.

• Discusses cross-cultural difference in marital attitude between the Chinese and Americans.

Keywords: Arranged Marriage;Cohabitation;Chinese;Culture;Generation;and Marriage.

In an American church, a priest asks the bridegroom wearing a black tuxedo: “Are you willing to be this

woman’s husband, for better or worse?” He then he turns to the bride who has just walked down the aisle

in a white wedding dress: “Are you willing to be this man’s wife, for better or worse?” Both in turn say,

“I do.”

—An example of traditional practice at a Western wedding

In the bridegroom’s house, a host asks both the bridegroom, who is wearing a red dress, and the bride, who

is wearing a red dress, her face customarily covered with a red cloth: “The first kowtow is for the heaven

and earth!” Then the couple bows to the air shoulder to shoulder and the host continues, “The second

kowtowis for parents!” Then the couple turns back around to bow to their parents who are all sitting in the

chairs directly in front of them and the host continues, “The third kowtow is for each other!” Finally,

the couple turns again to bow to each other and the host ends with “Send them to the bridal chamber!”

The couple leaves temporarily, and a large celebratory reception begins.

—An example of traditional practice at Chinese wedding

As China continues to rapidly develop, attention has been drawn to the need to explorespecifically

how marriage and family life have changed in China over time. Some notable changes have included

the most common age at first marriage in China shifting from 16 to 19 in the early 1950s, to 18 to 21

around 1970, and to between 20 and 25 around 1980 (Yi, Vaupel, & Yashin, 1985), the normative type

Correspondence: bluecoffeeheart1984@gmail.com; blo9n@virginia.edu

FAMILY COURT REVIEW,Vol. 51 No. 4, October 2013 591–604

© 2013 Association of Familyand Conciliation Cour ts