WUNRN
CHINA - RISING DIVORCE RATE -
PREMARITAL EDUCATION MAY HELP
Editor: Hou Jianjun - November 19, 2012
Premarital
education is currently urgently needed to help combat marital problems and
stabilize Chinese marriages, said an expert from the Maple Women's
Psychological Counseling Center in Beijing at a recent interview.
According
to the center's hotline inquiries from 1992 to 2011, marital stability and
relationship problems are the main emotional and psychological issue facing
Chinese women, said Wang Xingjuan, honorary chairperson of the counseling
center. She added that Chinese people's views on marriage and love have changed
a lot over the years.
"In comparison to 20 years ago, Chinese people are seeing an increase in
the divorce rate among middle-aged and senior citizens, younger divorces, flash
marriages and a higher incidence of infidelity," said Xu Anqi, researcher
at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, who has been researching marriage
since 1982.
Xu said that in comparison with that of other countries, Chinas divorce rate is
comparatively low, especially among younger people. Nevertheless, the rise in
divorces among the middle-aged and senior citizens is worrying.
Wang said that based on the number of cases she saw in 2011, infidelity is the
major complaint of women, followed by personality conflicts, housework
disputes, and unsatisfactory sex lives.
"In the 1990s, women usually thought getting married and having children
meant security, but now some women feel worried after getting married that
their husbands will have affairs," said Wang.
China's generation of 'single child' also tend to be more egocentric, making it
hard for them to make the compromises and sacrifices needed to sustain a
healthy relationship, said Hou Zhiming, supervisor at the Maple Women's
Psychological Counseling Center.
Wang Fang, director of the Marriage and Family Committee of the Beijing Lawyers
Association, added that increasing materialism in society has also led young
people, especially women, to impose financial aspects on relationships.
Xu said that premarital education should be made part of college or even high
school curriculums.
(Source: wsic.ac.cn / Translated by womenofchina.cn)