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Marriage squeeze and mate selection – Analysing the ecology of choice and implications for social policy in China

Eklund, Lisa LU (2013) In Economic and Political Weekly 48(35). p.62-69
Abstract
The marriage squeeze in China, whereby the sex ratio imbalance leaves many males without a marriage partner, is not only about numbers, but also about how the institution of marriage is socially, economically, and politically underpinned. This paper uses the concept of ecology of choice in mate selection to demonstrate how different social processes and practices have ramifications on who can marry, who they can marry, and under what circumstances. It points to the historical and cultural practices of patrilineage, hypergamy, and concubinage, which contributed to a marriage squeeze long before the sex ratio at birth became an issue. It also examines how the policies of the Chinese Communist Party have affected social institutions related... (More)
The marriage squeeze in China, whereby the sex ratio imbalance leaves many males without a marriage partner, is not only about numbers, but also about how the institution of marriage is socially, economically, and politically underpinned. This paper uses the concept of ecology of choice in mate selection to demonstrate how different social processes and practices have ramifications on who can marry, who they can marry, and under what circumstances. It points to the historical and cultural practices of patrilineage, hypergamy, and concubinage, which contributed to a marriage squeeze long before the sex ratio at birth became an issue. It also examines how the policies of the Chinese Communist Party have affected social institutions related to marriage, reinforcing the marriage squeeze, and discusses the implications of this. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
ecology of choice, mate selection, sex ratio, marriage squeeze, social policy, China, sociologi, sociology
in
Economic and Political Weekly
volume
48
issue
35
pages
62 - 69
publisher
Economic and Political Weekly
ISSN
0012-9976
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
cf2f9e14-d2a0-4705-bddd-b612b368549c (old id 4003022)
alternative location
http://www.epw.in/system/files/pdf/2013_48/35/Marriage_Squeeze_and_Mate_Selection.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:24:46
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:52:55
@article{cf2f9e14-d2a0-4705-bddd-b612b368549c,
  abstract     = {{The marriage squeeze in China, whereby the sex ratio imbalance leaves many males without a marriage partner, is not only about numbers, but also about how the institution of marriage is socially, economically, and politically underpinned. This paper uses the concept of ecology of choice in mate selection to demonstrate how different social processes and practices have ramifications on who can marry, who they can marry, and under what circumstances. It points to the historical and cultural practices of patrilineage, hypergamy, and concubinage, which contributed to a marriage squeeze long before the sex ratio at birth became an issue. It also examines how the policies of the Chinese Communist Party have affected social institutions related to marriage, reinforcing the marriage squeeze, and discusses the implications of this.}},
  author       = {{Eklund, Lisa}},
  issn         = {{0012-9976}},
  keywords     = {{ecology of choice; mate selection; sex ratio; marriage squeeze; social policy; China; sociologi; sociology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{35}},
  pages        = {{62--69}},
  publisher    = {{Economic and Political Weekly}},
  series       = {{Economic and Political Weekly}},
  title        = {{Marriage squeeze and mate selection – Analysing the ecology of choice and implications for social policy in China}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5317339/8244559.pdf}},
  volume       = {{48}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}