Attitude of the Communist Chinese Toward Inter-Class Marriage.

Since the change of political regime on the Chinese mainland in 1949, new values and attitudes have been consciously introduced by the Communist Party. The family institution has undergone a rather drastic alteration not only in form but also in composition, structure, roles of its members and especially in values and patterns of mate selection and marital adjustment. According to traditional Chinese social values, one should marry a person of relatively similar social background consistent with the concept of homogamy discussed by Burgess and his associates. This paper is a discussion of the new trend toward political homogamy which often results in the emergence of inter-class marriage. Along with the new freedom in mate selection, there are numerous incidents of romantic love involving individuals of different background and education. Under the reeducation of Party leaders, a new value based on political compatibility in socialist ideology has been stressed with reference to the establishment of a new family. Equality of the sexes through the participation of women in labor will liberate them from the traditional shackle of dependence on men.