Jinghao Liu
Pronouns: He
Research Mentor(s): Yun Zhou
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Sociology / LSA
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Oral5
Session: Session 2 – 11am – 11:50am
Room: Breakout Room 3
Authors: Yun Zhou, Jinghao Liu
Presenter: 6
Abstract
The increasing cohabitation with declines in marriage and fertility rates is a key component of the second demographic transition (SDT) theory based on the demographic change in the West since the 1960s. However, cohabitation in China remains relatively unexplored. The project studies attitudes of China’s highly educated urban heterosexual-identifying men towards cohabitation through qualitative interviews with 40 respondents. An analysis of these interviews shows that although most respondents accept cohabitation, a significant majority see it as a precursor of marriage instead of a substitute. These respondents report testing compatibility before marriage as the sole motivation for cohabitation. We observe that highly educated urban dwellers, the interested population of the project, lack economic incentives for cohabitation. No respondent refers to financial consideration when asked about cohabitation, indicating the absence of economic motivation. Most respondents also do not pose any financial constraint or precondition for cohabitation. This result contrasts previous research by Huang et al., which points to financial consideration as one of the primary drivers for the shift in cohabitation in China. The project provides a qualitative account of highly educated and urban hetersexual-identifying men’s attitudes toward cohabitation. The result indicates a more dynamic motive for cohabitation among the interested population.
Interdisciplinary, Social Sciences
