Premarital Sexuality, Abortion, and Intergenerational Dynamics in China

Abstract

This article uses premarital abortion(s) as a window to examine diverse parental roles in adult unmarried daughters’ intimate lives in post-socialist China. It also addresses issues of premarital sex, premarital pregnancy, and the emergence of a dating culture. The article identifies four patterns of parent–adult daughter interactions during the decision-making process of premarital abortion: no recognizable parental role, referencing perceived parental views, consulting parents, and direct parental pressure to terminate pregnancy. The findings suggest that within the context of a mature dating culture in urban China and the prevalence of premarital sex, adult daughters have achieved considerable control over decisions about sex and intimacy. Nevertheless, many women have continued to consider parental views on their marriage and reproduction as crucial. Some women have even prioritized the preferences of their parents over those of their intimate partners because they consider intergenerational ties more enduring and reliable than ties between intimate partners.

Sexuality in China: A review and new findings

“…The development and popularity of large-scale social platforms has also led to a growth in online sexual activity in China, including both cybersex and seeking real-life partners with whom to have sexual relations (Cooper et al, 2004). The rise of the internet has also created online spaces for gathering and discussion among sexual minorities, such as LGBTQ+ and asexuality-based groups (Zheng and Su, 2018). The anonymity of the internet allows them to more freely express feelings and find recognition of their sexual identity (Kong, 2016; Li et al, 2010; Miles-Johnson and Wang, 2018).…”

Attitudes of spouses towards abortion and the quality of their mutual relations

“…They often put their parents' preferences over those of their intimate partners. They justify this by the fact that intergenerational ties are more durable and reliable than the ties between intimate partners (Lai, Choi, 2021). The vast majority of women decide to have an abortion together with their husbands (Ariffin et al, 2017).…”

Gendered social practices in reproductive health: A qualitative study exploring lived experiences of unwed single mothers in China

“…Despite the loosened population policy, the tie between marriage and childbearing remains central in China (Lai & Choi, 2019), highlighting the ways in which gender system is embedded within the reproductive health discourse. For example, the government has continued to impose penalties on illegitimate childbirth (Lai & Choi, 2019), while promoting heterosexual marriage as the only legitimate way for childbearing (Davis & Friedman, 2014).…”

“…Despite the loosened population policy, the tie between marriage and childbearing remains central in China (Lai & Choi, 2019), highlighting the ways in which gender system is embedded within the reproductive health discourse. For example, the government has continued to impose penalties on illegitimate childbirth (Lai & Choi, 2019), while promoting heterosexual marriage as the only legitimate way for childbearing (Davis & Friedman, 2014). Women's reproductive decisions continue to be restricted by governmental regulations such as the inability of unwed single mothers to register their children, being denied access to reproductive health services and social welfare for their children (Lai & Choi, 2019; Yan, 2010).…”

“…Particularly in China, women feel more pressure to be virgins and are reluctant to declare pregnancy before marriage (Farrer, 2014). The internalization of the pressure to uphold gender norms that stigmatize premarital pregnancy and the structural constraints that are imposed on unwed single mothers have led to abortions among unmarried women and even baby killing in extreme cases (Guo, 2012; Lai & Choi, 2019).…”