According to the Chinese Population and Employment Statistics Yearbook 2023, the unmarried rate of people of all ages in China is generally higher in 2022, especially among young people aged 25-29 and 30-34, with 51 respectively3% and 184% are unmarried. This shows that late marriage has become a common phenomenon in Chinese society, and what are the reasons and influences behind this phenomenon?(*CBN).
Nowadays, more and more people choose to marry later, which is a social phenomenon. This is not a matter of a day or two, but slowly develops with social and economic changes.
If we look at the data, we can see that the age of marriage in our country is getting older and older, especially the age of first marriage.
In 2020, the average age of first marriage in our country was 2867 years old, up from 24 in 201089 years old 3 years tallerHe was 78 years old. This shows that many people have studied for many years, worked for many years, made a lot of friends, and have more plans and ideas for their future before getting married.
So, why does the phenomenon of late marriage occur?This is related to China's population policy, education level, employment pressure, urbanization process, gender equality, marriage and love concepts and many other aspects.
First of all, due to the implementation of the family planning policy in our country, the number of people of marriageable age is much smaller than before, so there are fewer people getting married.
Some people may not find a suitable match, and some may feel the need to get married.
Secondly, due to the improvement of the level of education in our country, many people have gone to university, even graduate and doctoral students.
In this way, the number of years of schooling increases, which means that the age of marriage is also delayed. For example, a doctoral student may not graduate until he is 30 years old, so he does not have much time and energy to fall in love and get married.
Thirdly, due to the economic development of our country, competition has also intensified, and many young people want to make a difference in the workplace and realize their value.
They may feel that marriage and family will be burdensome and stressful for them, so they would rather get married later or not at all.
Finally, due to the acceleration of urbanization in our country and the improvement of living standards, the lifestyles and attitudes of many young people have also changed.
They pay more attention to their own personality and choices, and their requirements and expectations for marriage are also higher. They don't want to get married casually, but to find a partner who is really right for them.
At the same time, due to the increased awareness of gender equality in our country, the status and rights of women have also been improved, and they have also made many achievements and contributions outside the family. Their views on marriage are also more rational and autonomous, and they no longer regard marriage as the necessity and end of life.
What is the impact of the phenomenon of late marriage on the future of our society?We can look at it in both positive and negative ways.
On the positive side, the phenomenon of late marriage has several benefits:
Young people who marry later have more time and money to spend on their own interests and hobbies, and their consumption needs and abilities are also stronger, which has led to the development of tourism, education, entertainment, beauty and other industries.
For example, a young person who marries later may travel to see the world, or to learn some new skills, or to enjoy some entertainment, or to go to a beauty salon to dress up. All these can bring them happiness and economic benefits to society.
Young people who marry later have more opportunities and space to find and choose a suitable partner, and their marriage is more based on love and reason than tradition and pressure, thus reducing marital conflicts and contradictions and improving marital happiness.
For example, young people who marry late may know and understand their partners in various ways, such as online dating, blind dates, social activities, etc., and they will consider whether they and each other's interests, personalities, values, etc., rather than just looking at appearance, family, income, etc. In this way, their marriage is more likely to be happy than forced.
Young people who marry later have more self-realization and self-worth, they have more achievements and contributions in society, and they also have more self-confidence and respect.
For example, young people who marry later may make achievements in their professional field, or make a difference in their social role, or improve in their own personal development. These can make them proud, and they can also be recognized and respected by others.
Young people who marry later have more gender equality and freedom to marry, they are not bound and pressured by tradition, nor are they subject to gender discrimination and prejudice, and they can decide their own marriage according to their own wishes and choices.
For example, young people who marry later may choose not to marry, or not have children after marriage, or share family responsibilities after marriage, or maintain their independence after marriage. These make them feel free and they can enjoy equality.
Young people who marry later have a higher stability and quality of marriage, their marriages are more able to withstand trials and challenges, and they are more able to support and care for each other.
For example, young people who marry later may cherish their marriage more and work harder to maintain their marriage, they will be more communicative and understanding, more trusting and tolerant, they will be more caring and caring, and they will be more respectful and appreciative. All of these can make their marriage stronger and better.
On the negative side, there are several disadvantages to the phenomenon of late marriage:
Young people who marry later give birth at a higher age, and their fertility risks and difficulties also increase, which may lead to infertility, miscarriage, malformations and other problems, affecting their physical and mental health.
For example, young people who marry later may have difficulty conceiving or giving birth because of their age, or they may encounter complications, or they may give birth to defective children. These will cause them a lot of pain and stress, and will also affect the harmony of their marriage and family.
Young people who marry later affect the functioning of the family, their family relationships and affection may become diluted and estranged, and their family education and inheritance may become missing and disconnected.
For example, young people who marry later may have less contact with their parents and siblings, or less communication with their spouse and children, or less communication with their grandparents and grandparents, because of the time and distance of the marriage. These will make their family atmosphere cold and alienated, and will also make their family values and cultural heritage blurred and broken.
Young people who marry later weaken social cohesion, their social responsibility and participation may become weakened and lacking, and their social trust and cooperation may become reduced and difficult.
For example, young people who marry later may not be concerned about and participate in social affairs and problems, or do not respect and abide by the rules and systems of society, or do not trust and cooperate with other members of society because they do not have the constraints and incentives of marriage and family. These can make their social relations loose and cold, and they can also make their social order and harmony fragile and dangerous.
To sum up, the phenomenon of late marriage is an important phenomenon in Chinese society, which has both positive and negative impacts, and needs to be understood and dealt with from multiple perspectives.
I believe that the phenomenon of late marriage is a personal choice and a social change, and we should respect and support the choices of young people, and at the same time, we should provide them with more help and services so that they can realize their happiness and value in marriage and family.
At the same time, we should also pay attention to and solve some social problems caused by the phenomenon of late marriage, such as the decline in the birth rate and the increase in the burden of old-age care, and promote the sustainable development of the population and ensure social harmony and stability by improving relevant policies and systems. Finally, I would like to raise a question to provoke the reader's reflection and discussion: How do you view and respond to the phenomenon of late marriage?