Less marriage pressure on Chinese women in NZ

Chinese-born women living in New Zealand say they feel less societal and family pressure to marry young, due to differing cultural ideologies and media representation.

In China, an unmarried woman over the age of 25 is referred to as a “leftover woman”.

Dr Stephen Noakes, lecturer of Chinese politics at the University of Auckland, said the label and resulting stigma is considered a source of shame for a woman and her family, and has long been a controversial topic in China.

Dr Melissa Inouye, lecturer of Asian Studies at the University of Auckland, said while the label “leftover woman” is unfortunate, economic pressure and rising uncertainty makes Chinese society today highly competitive.

“The environment for women is particularly stressful because of prevailing patriarchal attitudes and a culture in which women are objectified as symbols of status and power,” said Dr Inouye.

“New Zealand’s environment is much more relaxed and open, which means less competition and less of a culture of ranking women based on their marital status.”

Chinese-born Yan Hui Juan, 34, a single freelance tutor, said she has never considered herself a “leftover woman”.

Ms Yan said more relaxed ideologies towards marriage in New Zealand lessen the stigma of being an unmarried Chinese woman over the age of 25.

AUT students Yi Ning, 21, and Yuan Yuan Cui, 22, believe the relaxed attitude towards marriage in New Zealand has encouraged their families to change their views towards early marriage.

“We don’t care about being ‘leftover women’ in New Zealand. It doesn’t matter here,” said Ms Yi.

Ms Yan said the issue is heightened by media representation of the issue in China.

“People nowadays create controversy for media attention. Whoever came up with [the label] probably knew it would be a widespread and controversial topic,” she said.

Because of the media attention surrounding the issue, Ms Yan said young women in China face more pressure from family and society to marry young than Chinese women living in New Zealand.

“The media representation makes families very judgmental and pushy in China,” she said.

New Zealander Mark Brenndorfer, 33, has been living in China for over three years and dating his Chinese girlfriend Brittani, 25, for two years. He said the label is “an idea that is carefully controlled and promoted by state-sponsored media” in China.

“There’s an agenda. I don’t believe it’s a plight – it’s something more than gender inequality in modern society,” said Mr Brenndorfer.

“In China, if you’re old and not married and a woman – people think there’s something wrong with you. It’s not easy to just shrug it off like we can in New Zealand.”