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The startling plight of urban women and marriage: a research overview of entrenched gender inequality in China

Dong, Xiaomeng LU (2018) UTVK03 20181
Sociology
Abstract
Discussions on issues of marriage squeeze which resulting from the gender demographic imbalance has a long history in China. However, since the advent of 21st century, much media attention has shifted to an emerging phenomenon: highly educated, urban career women are at the forefront of a trend of un-marrying or delaying marriage. Labeled “leftover women” (shengnv), they are perceived less marriageable due to their advancing age and high social-economic status. They were negatively portrayed as egocentric, fastidious and with less filial moral. The derogatory term evokes social distain and pity toward these women, arouse their fears, as even younger women concern about their future situation. This study is aimed to pursue a deeper... (More)
Discussions on issues of marriage squeeze which resulting from the gender demographic imbalance has a long history in China. However, since the advent of 21st century, much media attention has shifted to an emerging phenomenon: highly educated, urban career women are at the forefront of a trend of un-marrying or delaying marriage. Labeled “leftover women” (shengnv), they are perceived less marriageable due to their advancing age and high social-economic status. They were negatively portrayed as egocentric, fastidious and with less filial moral. The derogatory term evokes social distain and pity toward these women, arouse their fears, as even younger women concern about their future situation. This study is aimed to pursue a deeper understanding of the ‘leftover women’ phenomenon in current Chinese social context. This paper adopts a secondary source analysis method. Drawing on secondary sources, employing Bourdieu’s concept of habitus, capital and symbolic violence, I explore the intersection between gender norms and parental involvement and their influence on Chinese urban women’s identity and their marriage choices. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Dong, Xiaomeng LU
supervisor
organization
course
UTVK03 20181
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
China, gender, habitus, leftover women, marriage delay
language
English
id
8946644
date added to LUP
2018-06-21 15:14:50
date last changed
2018-06-21 15:14:50
@misc{8946644,
  abstract     = {{Discussions on issues of marriage squeeze which resulting from the gender demographic imbalance has a long history in China. However, since the advent of 21st century, much media attention has shifted to an emerging phenomenon: highly educated, urban career women are at the forefront of a trend of un-marrying or delaying marriage. Labeled “leftover women” (shengnv), they are perceived less marriageable due to their advancing age and high social-economic status. They were negatively portrayed as egocentric, fastidious and with less filial moral. The derogatory term evokes social distain and pity toward these women, arouse their fears, as even younger women concern about their future situation. This study is aimed to pursue a deeper understanding of the ‘leftover women’ phenomenon in current Chinese social context. This paper adopts a secondary source analysis method. Drawing on secondary sources, employing Bourdieu’s concept of habitus, capital and symbolic violence, I explore the intersection between gender norms and parental involvement and their influence on Chinese urban women’s identity and their marriage choices.}},
  author       = {{Dong, Xiaomeng}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The startling plight of urban women and marriage: a research overview of entrenched gender inequality in China}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}