Growing Up Sexually

CHINESE AMERICANS, CANADIANS (USA)

Index → Americas → North-America Non-Natives→ Chinese Americans

See also: China

Also featured: Mormons, African Americans, North American Hasidic Jews, Italian Americans, North American Armenians, North American Hmong, Serbian Americans, Mexican Americans

Glick (1980:p177)^[1][190] noted:

“Marriages between Hawaii-reared Chinese girls and Chinese migrants in Hawaii also helped to forge bonds within the migrant community. Many of these marriages were “matched”, often as the girl was reaching late adolescence, by a go-between who also assisted in the marital arrangements and acted as a sponsor of the marriage. This type of marriage was an approximation of traditional village customs --there was nothing like a Western courtship and the bride and groom saw little of one another before the wedding”.

However, Hoe (1976)^[2][191] mentioned on Chinese Canadians:

“Under Western influences, the Chinese marriage ritual has undergone radical changes. The younger generation is more attuned to the changes of the times and believes in courtship and romantic love. Although consultation with parents before marriage is still maintained, arranged marriages through a match-maker are practically non-existent. However, the exchange of rings and the giving of gifts to the prospective bride’s family are still carried on. There is, however, no longer any bride price”.

Nee (1986:p153)^[3][192] notes on San Francisco Chinatown:

“For both men and women of the American-born generation, the conception of courtship and marriage also differed significantly from that of their parents. As in American culture, romantic love, together with practical considerations such as family background, education, and career potential, were seen by them as the basis for choosing a partner in marriage. They conceived of marriage as a union between two individuals rather than a matter which the family decides, and thus rejected their parents’ efforts to arrange marriages for them. Although many parents strongly encouraged their children to follow the village custom of marrying somebody outside of the family name whose parents came from a nearby village, such practices declined among the American-born generation” (see also Weiss, 1974:p85-6 for congruent arguments)^[4][193].

A similar pattern is noted in New York Chinatown (Wong, 1982:p63)^[5][194]:

“Marriage is no longer by parental arrangement. Western “romantic” marriage, where courtship precedes marriage has been adopted. In selecting mates, they are concerned with companionship, common interests, and mutual affection. Their attitudes toward sex, dating, marriage, and careers differ little from other Americans”.

Janssen, D. F., Growing Up Sexually. VolumeI. World Reference Atlas. 0.2 ed. 2004. Berlin: Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology

Last revised: Sept 2004