Amercan mate selection VS Chinese mate selection Essay

Running head: AMERICAN & CHINESE DATING IN 1980S1
American & Chinese Dating in 1980s: Similarities & Differences
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AMERICAN & CHINESE DATING IN 1980S

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American & Chinese Dating in 1980s: Similarities & Differences


I. Background
In love, just as in war, everything is possible. This is a slogan made evident every single day as dating has come define love relationships globally. In contrast to more conventional and arranged ways for dating (and marriage), dating, particularly online, is now global cutting across different geographies, cultures, ages, social backgrounds and much more. The current standards for dating are, compared to standards in earlier decades, much more different and are informed by just as different cultural, social and generational differences. Unsurprisingly, going back in history and reaching out across geographical and/or cultural boundaries yield different perspectives, if not whole worldviews, on dating. For current purposes, dating in U.S. and China in 1980s is of central interest. Specifically, dating “cultures” in U.S. and China during 1980s are compared and contrasted in order to identify similarities and differences informed by cultural, social, political and economic factors.
To put matters into context, a short introduction is necessary on dating in U.S. and China in 1980s prior to delving deeper into similarities and differences in each culture.
In U.S., dating is one defining feature of culture in post-WWII period. The explosion of job opportunities coupled by unprecedented college education for women opened up choices for women to pick a partner. In contrast to a more conventional family introductions for marriage purposes, women started to find much more options for dating beyond inner and narrow family circles and into wider social circles. This shift in dating defined U.S. dating culture in post-WWII period, including 1980s, up until online dating in early 2000s. In essence, men and women post-WWII engaged each other in more “liberal” and “open” relationships, including co-
AMERICAN & CHINESE DATING IN 1980S

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habitation, much beyond more “restrictive” and marriage-focused meetings men and women were often forced to to find a suitor in pre-WWII period. Then again, culture is central in understanding why dating (not necessarily leading to marriage) has found such a “quick” acceptance in U.S. and more reluctance, as is discussed shortly, in China. Essentially, U.S. culture is individualistic and, as such, personal freedoms are much more emphasized as opposed to group “rights” and/or loyalties. This aspect in U.S. culture has made possible a dating culture in 1980s China had to grapple with for a while until, very recently, younger generations are embracing a more independent role in choosing a future partner.
In China, dating per se has never existed pre-1980s and was stigmatized and frowned upon. If anything, China, prior to and in 1980s, was still largely an underdeveloped country embracing agrarian values and principles of collectivism, hard work, conservatism, face-saving behaviors and fa...