Summary of Key Points
This study challenges the stereotype that “everyone is delaying marriage” and reveals through national data a significant divergence in the age at which people in China get married: those with higher education and urban household registration tend to marry later (or sometimes not at all), while those with lower education and rural household registration marry earlier (or are forced to do so). Four structural factors are driving this trend: diverging views on marriage, the “crowding out/crowding in” effects in the labor market, gender anxiety, and mismatched needs among different social strata. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at creating more freedom in personal marital choices.
1. Marriage is Not a “Collective Delay”; Some Marry Late, Some Marry Early
Do you know people who are highly educated (e.g., PhDs) and still single in their 30s, while your high school classmates from your hometown are having children by age 25? This is not a coincidence but a reflection of real social differentiation.
The study shows that individuals with higher education (university or above) and urban household registration are delaying marriage, viewing it as the “last piece of the puzzle in life” that requires financial independence and career stability before considering marriage. In contrast, those with lower education (secondary school or below) and rural household registration are getting married earlier, as they see marriage as a means of providing economic support for their families.
There is also a generational pattern: marriage ages were delayed during the Cultural Revolution due to political turmoil, then dropped sharply in the early stages of reform, and now there is another divergence, with higher-educated individuals delaying and lower-educated individuals getting married earlier.
2. Higher-Educated Urban Residents Marry Late: Not Because They Don’t Want to, but Because They’re “Waiting for the Right Conditions”
Why do highly educated people marry later? There are two main reasons:
1. Changing Attitudes: Marriage is no longer seen as a mandatory task but as an optional luxury. Many urban professionals prioritize earning money and achieving personal maturity before settling down, preferring to wait rather than settle for a less ideal partnership.
2. The Workplace Takes Time Away from Romance: The competitive job market, with its frequent overtime and 996-hour work schedules, leaves little time for dating and marriage. This phenomenon is known as the “crowding out effect.” Their marriages are driven by a desire for self-actualization, focusing on spiritual compatibility and quality of life rather than simply finding a partner to live with.
3. Lower-Educated Rural Residents Marry Early: Not Because They Want to, but Because of Reality
The early marriage of rural residents with lower education is often due to external pressures:
1. Traditional Pressure: The belief that not getting married is abnormal remains strong in rural areas, and unmarried individuals face social scrutiny. For example, a 25-year-old rural woman may be pressured by relatives to marry.
2. Economic Challenges: Rural youth face unstable incomes and inadequate social security, making marriage a means of providing for their families. Early marriage allows them to work together to support each other financially and care for elderly parents and children. This is known as the “crowding in effect.” Their marriages are driven by practical needs.
4. Marriage Anxiety: The “Dual Pressure” on Women and the Unfriendly Nature of Institutions
Many women avoid marriage due to fear of losing out:
1. Dual Burdens: Women must work and care for both children and elderly parents. The study mentions a “8-4-2-3” burden, where a couple has to support eight grandparents, four parents, and three children (even though the number of children has decreased, the pressure remains significant).
2. Discrimination in the Workplace: Higher-educated women fear discrimination at work (e.g., not being hired because they are married or childless), which can affect their career prospects. Additionally, unfair divorce regulations and property division after marriage add to their concerns about the risks of marriage.
5. How to Create More Freedom in Marital Choices? Policies Should Focus on These Areas
The study suggests several key actions:
1. Relaxing Restrictions on Young People: Improve labor protections (e.g., reducing overtime and stabilizing employment) to give them more time for dating and marriage.
2. Protecting Women’s Rights: Enact laws that promote fairness in the workplace and reduce discrimination based on marital status or childbearing.
3. Eliminating Divorce Waiting Periods: Make divorce voluntary, so people are not forced into marriages they may not want to enter.
4. Accepting Diverse Family Structures: Singlehood, childlessness, and cohabitation should be accepted as legitimate choices, without the pressure of marriage being seen as a mandatory path.
In conclusion, marriage should be about choosing what one wants, free from the constraints of social class, gender, or institutional norms. I hope that in the future, everyone will have the freedom to make their own life decisions.