The sex ratio question and the unfolding of a moral panic? : Notions of power, choice and self in mate selection among women and men in higher education in China
(2018) In Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development p.105-125- Abstract
- Young adults have largely been absent in previous research on consequences of high sex ratios in China and few studies have zoomed in on those belonging to the higher strata of the population. With the purpose of contributing to filling this gap, this study investigates what implications sex ratio imbalance has for mate selection strategies and practices among young adults aged 19–24 in higher education in China. Being qualitative in nature, the chapter problematizes notions of power, choice and self in mate selection. The study finds that the sex ratio question has contributed to new social risk, and the fear of being leftover has unfolded into a moral panic. With universal marriage as a norm, both women and men studied fear being subject... (More)
- Young adults have largely been absent in previous research on consequences of high sex ratios in China and few studies have zoomed in on those belonging to the higher strata of the population. With the purpose of contributing to filling this gap, this study investigates what implications sex ratio imbalance has for mate selection strategies and practices among young adults aged 19–24 in higher education in China. Being qualitative in nature, the chapter problematizes notions of power, choice and self in mate selection. The study finds that the sex ratio question has contributed to new social risk, and the fear of being leftover has unfolded into a moral panic. With universal marriage as a norm, both women and men studied fear being subject to a marriage squeeze. Contrary to the dyadic power thesis, the study finds that women in higher education did not experience an advantage in mate selection despite their shortage. Reasons for this include elaborate criteria for the ideal spouse, gendered dating scripts and confined social circles. The risk of being “leftover” further makes both young men and women as well as their parents aware of the remote consequences of choice, which may instigate intentions of early timing of marriage, as well as hypergamous norms, as further fuelled by the construction of the “utilitarian woman” in media and popular discourse. The chapter concludes that by being constantly reminded of the risk of being “leftover”, marriage as a norm is further intensified among young adults. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/d5f36934-f9dd-4389-91fc-8310d8c728c7
- author
- Eklund, Lisa LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2018
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- sex ratio, marriage squeeze, hypergamy, moral panic, mate selection, choice, utilitarian self
- host publication
- Scarce women and surplus men in China and India : Macro Demographics versus Local Dynamics - Macro Demographics versus Local Dynamics
- series title
- Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development
- editor
- Srinivasan, Sharada and Li, Shuzhuo
- pages
- 105 - 125
- publisher
- Springer
- ISBN
- 978-3-319-63274-2
- project
- Family life and intimate relations of young adults in the context of a shortage of women
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- d5f36934-f9dd-4389-91fc-8310d8c728c7
- date added to LUP
- 2017-10-26 10:20:17
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 21:35:36
@inbook{d5f36934-f9dd-4389-91fc-8310d8c728c7,
abstract = {{Young adults have largely been absent in previous research on consequences of high sex ratios in China and few studies have zoomed in on those belonging to the higher strata of the population. With the purpose of contributing to filling this gap, this study investigates what implications sex ratio imbalance has for mate selection strategies and practices among young adults aged 19–24 in higher education in China. Being qualitative in nature, the chapter problematizes notions of power, choice and self in mate selection. The study finds that the sex ratio question has contributed to new social risk, and the fear of being leftover has unfolded into a moral panic. With universal marriage as a norm, both women and men studied fear being subject to a marriage squeeze. Contrary to the dyadic power thesis, the study finds that women in higher education did not experience an advantage in mate selection despite their shortage. Reasons for this include elaborate criteria for the ideal spouse, gendered dating scripts and confined social circles. The risk of being “leftover” further makes both young men and women as well as their parents aware of the remote consequences of choice, which may instigate intentions of early timing of marriage, as well as hypergamous norms, as further fuelled by the construction of the “utilitarian woman” in media and popular discourse. The chapter concludes that by being constantly reminded of the risk of being “leftover”, marriage as a norm is further intensified among young adults.}},
author = {{Eklund, Lisa}},
booktitle = {{Scarce women and surplus men in China and India : Macro Demographics versus Local Dynamics}},
editor = {{Srinivasan, Sharada and Li, Shuzhuo}},
isbn = {{978-3-319-63274-2}},
keywords = {{sex ratio; marriage squeeze; hypergamy; moral panic; mate selection; choice; utilitarian self}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{105--125}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development}},
title = {{The sex ratio question and the unfolding of a moral panic? : Notions of power, choice and self in mate selection among women and men in higher education in China}},
year = {{2018}},
}