Abstract
With the increased exposure to Western cultures and the transition towards modernization, Chinese society has experienced substantial social change, which has influenced marital relationships. Although recent research has documented contemporary patterns of marital interaction, less is known about what Chinese adults consider to be an ideal marital partner. The values of contemporary Chinese adults about mate selection preferences were addressed by conducting six focus groups in Taipei, Taiwan. The focus groups included a total of 51 participants (male=25; female=26) and included separate groups for middle-aged married men, middle-aged married women, younger married men, younger married women, never-married young adult men, and never-married young adult women. The results from qualitative analysis indicated three major themes in an ideal partner: family-of-origin, which included similar family background and good relationship with in-laws, personal qualities, which included financially stability and being responsible, and relationship qualities, which included getting along, communicating well, mutual respect, and gender equality. These results indicate that contemporary Chinese adults value a combination of traditional Chinese (e.g., similar family background) and Western (e.g., good communication) values. Overall, the young Chinese participants showed greater incorporation of Western values than the older participants. These findings suggest that modern Chinese society is being increasingly influenced by individualistic Western values.
Highlights
There is a significant knowledge base about marital relationships in traditional Chinese culture
The results indicate that contemporary Chinese adults value a combination of traditional Chinese and Western values
Having a harmonious relationship with both the partner and the in-laws was crucial for the Chinese adults in the study. They reported that the ideal partner who has a good relationship with in-laws and a similar family background, which are the two subthemes of the family-of-origin category, increases the probability for harmonious family relationships
Summary
There is a significant knowledge base about marital relationships in traditional Chinese culture. The norms of three-generational households and the unequal gendered power structure of marriage are well documented (Lu & Lin, 1998). Over the past 75 years, Chinese society has experienced substantial social change, with dramatic economic modernization, universal education, and increased Western interaction and influence. With the increased exposure to Western cultures and transitions to modernization and universal education, both Taiwan and China have experienced substantial changes in gender role ideology, as well as family structure and norms. The core Confucius principle of filial piety, which is defined as upholding honor for the family and having proper manners with parents and moral responsibility, is still highly valued in Chinese societies, including Taiwan (Chen & Yi, 2011; Liu, 2013)
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