More than 6.8 million pairs of couples registered for marriage in China in 2022, a 10.5% drop compared with 7.6 million pairs in 2021, according to National Bureau of Statistics.

It seems that Chinese people’s anticipation to get married becomes weaker in recent years.

Through interviews with students at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) about their willingness to get married, we can know about their views on marriage. The following reviews only represent a part of opinions.

No longer a must for life

An equal marriage, and the emotional value it provides, as well as the reciprocity among family members, are the greatest attraction of marriage to individuals, according to a survey on Chinese college students in 2021.

Most of them agreed that marriage should be the result of a happy relationship rather than traditional custom. “You can have a complete life without getting married,” said Ding Zheyu, a three-year SISU student.

The perceived high cost of marriage is an important factor that push them back. Liu Wenzeng, a one-year SISU student said that he would rather spend money on himself just as the saying goes “Lovers love themselves first.”

Several students maintain an optimistic attitude towards marriage. According to Zhang Linjie, her desire to be loved can be fulfilled through marriage. And for Wu Runqing, marriage may symbolize a long-lasting and stable companionship.

Whereas the definition of equality in a marriage varies from person to person, especially when asked whether they regard “housewife” as a symbol of inequality.

Chen Mengyao accepts the division of outer-man and inner-woman because she thinks that a couple should play different roles in their family. It’s the same case for Wu. She disagrees with those who gives up a pursuit of better lives for the sake of career, which, in her opinion, loses the greater for the less. “No matter what you do, and even a housewife, as long as you contribute to this family, it is meaningful,” Two-year SISU student Ma Heyuan is also on the side, and he thinks that when people are in love, everything is taken for granted, and fairness will never be questioned under the circumstances.

Liu holds an opposite opinion, “I don’t accept the division, and it actually lowers the status of women.” Most of those who have similar views as Liu mention the necessity of economic independence. Wang Qianyue, and Tian Xiong both agree that a job and income are guarantees for equality.

Family influences the view on marriage

Family is one of the main external factors, while subjective sentiments directly reflect students’ choices.

If families could provide children with enough love, they might not need marriages to satisfy their demands to be loved.

The same goes for Tu Hua, a one-year SISU student. The combination of her parents makes her feel that the marriage is more of a companionship and responsibility. “I will carefully consider whether my partner is really reliable,” she said.

Somehow being the only child has made Gu Tao accustomed to being alone, for whom marriage is “finding a partner to live with”.

If parents stay in an unhappy marriage, children might be discouraged to repeat it. However, there exist students who hold certain expectations about marriage because their parents are devoted to each other.

Zhang is one of them, "I hope to find someone who supports me and loves me like my father."

Chen, as a juris master, is susceptible to the legal effect of marriage and its constraints on two individuals. “The laws and policies make people afraid of marriage because it may bring legal consequences,” she complained.

Education influences the view on marriage

Education is another important factor. Liu comes from rural areas where many people are affected by traditional social norms. When he was a child, he believed that the process of carrying on the family line was a must. But his opinion changed after all, “When I grow up, I feel at ease to entrust the responsibility to my brother.”

However, the internal factors play a leading role. Ma doesn’t consider marriage. When asked the reason, he answered quickly, “It wastes time, money, efforts, and my partner will suffer. I want to be in love, but not for love into marriage.”

Pervasive online information

As digital natives, the young generation rely heavily on the Internet for information. The negative news related to marriage and fertility may influence them to some extent.

The concept of individualism and non-marriage labeled on some short video bloggers makes Liu yearn for it. He realizes that there’s nothing wrong with being alone.

Chen, however, said that the media over-presents some issues such as domestic violence and high bride price.

While the influence of Internet seems inevitable, most of them said that they will stick to their opinions and make rational decisions.

Although most interviewees consider marriage as something unnecessary, some of them reflect on the question from a social perspective. Tian is wary of the trend of isolation and the loss of social relationships. He believes that things like marriage and fertility make us human beings. “When people turn to virtual communities or marriages that do not require face-to-face contact, are human beings still the sum of all social relations?”