Post date: Jul 29, 2012 10:44:17 AM
China-Survey/Marriage -- Income tops Chinese women's criteria in choosing spouses
CCTV BEIJING - Chinese women now view income as the most important criterion for choosing a partner for marriage, according to a recent survey.
Jiayuan, the biggest online dating site in China, along with the China Youth Research Center and other institutions, released the "Survey Report of Chinese People's Outlook on Marriage" recently.
The report's findings state that income has topped Chinese women's criteria in choosing spouses over other considerations.
At a large-scale blind dating event, hosted by Jiayuan in the ballroom of the Shanghai Everbright International Hotel on May 20, hundreds of singles gathered to express their criteria for choosing their other halves.
"For me, my future husband doesn't have to be rich, but he should have a stable job with prospect of promotions and raises. And he has to be a hard working man. When we get married, he should have his own home," said a female participant of the event, who is a dance teacher.
A cosmetics saleswoman expressed her criteria more specifically. "I think he should make a monthly salary of at least 10,000 yuan (1570 U.S. dollars), considering the high expenses in Shanghai."
More than 34 percent of women who participated in the survey highlighted the financial situation of their potential spouses, reflecting the popularity of a new term floating around the Chinese media lately, "Gao Fushuai". Mimicking the structure of a Chinese name, the three Chinese characters in this title refer to men who are tall, rich and handsome.
Even on messages posted on bulletin boards at the event, women expressed their preferences for a well-paid man.
However, among the female survey participants interviewed by CCTV reporters, many denied their search for a Gao Fushuai. Instead, these women rank stability above wealth.
"Material requirements are often a prerequisite for starting relationships. After that, however, couples have to get along and find things they have in common," said Gong Haiyan, a marriage and relationship expert at Jiayuan.
"Women pay more attention to material factors, but in general, personality, common interests and character still make up the most important factors of young marriages," said Liu Junyan, secretary-general of the China Youth Research Center.
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