Kunpeng Project
In contemporary Chinese society, the issue of bride price has become a major problem for many young people. The bride price, as part of traditional Chinese marriage customs, was originally meant to express the man's respect and gratitude to the woman's family, but over time, the amount of the bride price has continued to rise, and has become a major obstacle for many young people to enter the marriage hall.
In recent years, the bride price has continued, especially in some areas, and the amount of the bride price even exceeds the savings of ordinary families for several years or even more than ten years. For example, there have been reports of bride prices in some counties from 1880,000 yuan rose to 39,000 plus a house and a car. Such a high bride price not only brings a heavy financial burden to the man's family, but also discourages many young people from marrying easily.
The high bride price is undoubtedly an important factor in the current decline in China's marriage rate. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's marriage rate has been declining since 2013 and has fallen to its lowest point in 2020. The financial pressure caused by the high bride price is one of the important reasons why many young people postpone or even give up on marriage.
The reason why the bride price culture has been able to endure is that it is deeply rooted in China's traditional concepts and social structure. Traditionally, the bride price is seen as a form of respect and commitment from the man to the woman, and it is also an important link between the two families. In addition, with the development of society, the bride price has also been given new meanings, such as showing the man's economic strength and ensuring the woman's married life.
To solve the bride price problem, we need to start from multiple angles. First of all, social organizations should strengthen the guidance of the concept of marriage, advocate rational consumption and simple weddings, and reduce the excessive pursuit of bride price. Second, the bride price can be regulated and restricted through legislative means to avoid its excessive commercialization and materialization. Finally, strengthen financial support for young people, such as providing low-interest loans, housing subsidies, etc., to reduce their financial pressure and make it easier for them to achieve their desire for marriage.
The persistence of the bride price problem is closely linked to economic development. In economically backward areas, due to the lack of other means of wealth accumulation, the bride price often becomes an important embodiment of the family's economic situation, so the bride price remains high. On the contrary, in more economically developed areas, due to people's higher income levels, the degree of dependence on bride price is relatively low, and the bride price** is relatively reasonable. Therefore, promoting economic development and raising the people's income level is one of the fundamental ways to alleviate the problem of bride price.
The issue of bride price also reflects the issue of gender equality. In some regions, high bride prices exacerbate the objectification of women and the preference of families for boys, leading to problems such as an imbalance in the sex ratio and the low status of women. Therefore, to solve the bride price problem, it is also necessary to improve the social status of women from the perspective of gender equality, and advocate the concept of marriage with gender equality.
The issue of bride price not only affects individuals and families, but also poses a threat to social stability. The financial pressure caused by the high bride price may lead to family and social conflicts, and even lead to the occurrence of criminal acts. Therefore, solving the issue of bride price is also an important measure to maintain social stability and harmony.
The bride price problem is the embodiment of the contradiction between traditional Chinese culture and the development of modern society, and its solution needs to comprehensively consider economic, social, cultural and other factors. Only through reform and innovation and the construction of a more fair and reasonable marriage system can we truly solve the problem of bride price and promote the harmonious development of society.