In China, Unmarried Sons And Daughters Bring Social And Financial Burdens
Posted on April 26, 2018
NIKKEI ASIAN REVIEW – Apr 25 – China's internet dating market surged 16% last year to 4B yuan ($633M), according to iResearch Consulting Group. The figure is expected to increase by 10% a year to reach 5.27B yuan in 2020. Chinese parents have a few reasons to prod their sons and daughters to find a match. One is the concept of mianzi, or reputation, which plays a major role in Chinese society. In northeastern China, it is considered the norm to be married by 25. Many parents feel embarrassed if their children remain single too long, especially if they see their friends' children getting married. But there are also financial concerns. It is customary to give gifts of money to friends when their children get married. So unless one's own child weds, parents are continually paying others without recouping any of the cash. Plus, many parents rely on their offspring after retirement. This means it is crucial for the children to settle down as soon as possible.
