Pre-marital sex commonplace in China

[52bing70]

From BBC News

Pre-marital sex 'usual' in China

Attitudes to sex in China are changing.

Most newlyweds in China have had sex before they marry, a new government report has suggested.

Research published by the State Family Planning Association showed that in most regions, 60-70% of people had lost their virginity before they applied to get married.

The findings underscored a dramatic shift in attitudes towards pre-marital sex in China, where in the 1970s and 1980s, such behaviour was still considered taboo.

The Family Planning Association's figures were based on 196 research reports issued between 1990 and 2000, and used information from medical examinations.

These check-ups were compulsory in order to obtain a marriage certificate - until changes in the law last week.

An official with the association said more studies needed to be done on attitudes towards sex.

"Knowledge, attitudes, capability and behaviour of the unwed towards sex is still outside the national survey of population and health", said Gu Baochang, deputy executive director of the association.

"This isn't good for making policies and launching programs on sex health," he told the French news agency AFP.

Correspondents say that many of the Chinese public are eager to find out more about sex themselves.

When a new sexual education textbook was put on sale in the university district of Beijing, earlier this year, it sold out overnight.

The original ariticle can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3176732.stm

[woodcutter]

Er, Bing, would you be in possession of a discussion generating opinion to go along with your collection of newspaper clippings?

[J.B. Frog]

woodcutter, I had the same reaction at first but, I don't get that kind of news so, though it could certainly be overdone, as it is I for one don't mind.

Oh, and just in case, here's an opinion:

Premarital sex will destroy China! Instead of restraint, duty and looking to the long-term common good, the Chinese character will degrade to short-term pleasure-seeking leading to single-parent households and a loss of societal cohesion, just like the West.

Hmm, this started as a joke but now I'm not sure

[trooper]

If 52bing70 isn't going to give an opinion, then I will!

My opinion on pre-marital sex: the more the better!

[woodcutter]

Lots of people, including more and more Chinese, agree with you.

Many of them will die for their beliefs.

[ThePhatGentleman]

J.B. Frog that was very well said. I couldn't agree more. In fact, this article is sad. I think no one is perfect but, the moral values of Chinese culture has always been a beautiful thing. All we can do is hope for the best.

[Shingo]

Ya Trooper! Throw in a few STI's and it's even more fun!

[yonglan]

"Puritanism is the sneaking suspicion that someone somewhere is having fun." H. L. Mencken

What's wrong with sex? AIDS and sex have the relation to each other that, say, transportation and drunk driving do. It's a hazard that one must consider. I don't drive very late at night for that reason. But it shouldn't prevent you from getting in your car. Does it?

Precautions.

I'm going to China in about a week to live. There's talk of bird flu this winter. What if? I could stay home. What will it be next year? How about Hep A from some scrupulously clean restaurant? I know I am taking some risks, but I will take care of my health, take my vitamins, eat right, and hopefully bird flu will pass me by.

Of course, everyone has their own personal limits on risk, and I myself am a rather cautious person, but clearly for many people sex is just a boogey man due to our repressive upbringings.

[roddy]

I’m not sure it’s the change in attitudes alone – more practical factors like the number of young people leaving their families to work in big cities, more affluent people being able to live alone, accommodation being private rather than danwei-provided. Plus places like nightclubs and bars where you can meet people outside of your social circle, as opposed being jieshao-ed.

[Jockster]

There's talk of bird flu this winter. What if? I could stay home. What will it be next year? How about Hep A from some scrupulously clean restaurant? I know I am taking some risks, but I will take care of my health, take my vitamins, eat right, and hopefully bird flu will pass me by.

The danger of catching bird flu is blown out of proportion. Crossing the street is much more dangerous! Not back home, but here in China, yes! When it comes to these kinds of risks, no matter how cautious we are, sometimes it comes down to nothing more than pure dumb luck. So, welcome over, Yonglan. Worrywarts can stay away from China and worry about this, that and the other thing. Sheesh...

[woodcutter]

If I die young, chances are sky high it will be in a traffic accident. Same goes for all you first worlders. No, I don't drive, as it happens.....

I do take risks though, believe it or not. Some people consider a lot of international travel to be risky. They are a bit confused, but anyway, I am braver than some people on that score.

Can't you think of any other drawbacks to young people having sex whenever they feel like it? The awful fatal disease sweeping the world is just one of them. For myself, I do see the other side of the argument. Sex is nice. Repression can be a bad thing.

[studentyoung]

Dear Mr.Woodcutter and Mr. Trooper

I am a Chinese female and I don't think I can agree with your words.

I wonder if you two have any daughters and would like to use your words to teach your daughters? I highly recomend you two to read the book "Scarlet Letter" written by American writer Mr. Nathanial Hawthrone, or just watch the film "the fire".

Yes, sex is not a bad thing and should not be repressed! But sex is not a reasonable excuse for men an women to practice sex irresponsiblely. Premarital sex for sex will cause great trouble in China's moral system(e.g.morality and love panics) and lot of social problems which will finally lead to the instability in Chinese society, not just medical problems only!

So in my opinion, Premarital sex for young people should not be the more the better. Love and sex should be consider the more cautiously the better. And social responsibility should be considered to make our whole society more united and more hopeful.

[xuechengfeng]

One may argue that sexual repression would potentially hold more danger than open sexual expression.

[ThePhatGentleman]

I agree with studentyoung.

[liuzhou]

I highly recomend you two to read the book "Scarlet Letter" written by American writer Mr. Nathanial Hawthrone

I suggest you read it again. It is not about premarital sex for one thing, and is, among other things, a critique on the puritan values appartaining in the USA at a certain time in history.

It may well, be relevant to the situation in China, but in the opposite way to that which you seem to be suggesting.

[vinhlong]

I also have to agree that sex and love should be practiced with responsibility, both inside and outside marriage, and that it should not be repressed. People should be well informed, so they can make a choice whether to have pre-marital sex or not.

I believe that neither being too puritan nor too free with sex is a good thing.

[woodcutter]

Student young, I was arguing on the same side of this debate as you!

I said sex is dangerous these days . I also believe that cars are more dangerous, that's all.

Mind yourself on those Chinese roads!

[studentyoung]

Dear Woodcutter,

Quote:

Student young, I was arguing on the same side of this debate as you!

I said sex is dangerous these days . I also believe that cars are more dangerous, that's all.

Ok, I say sorry for you!

Quote:

Mind yourself on those Chinese roads!

I will, thank you!

[studentyoung]

Dear Liuzhou,

Quote:

I suggest you read it again. It is not about premarital sex for one thing, and is, among other things, a critique on the puritan values appartaining in the USA at a certain time in history.

It may well, be relevant to the situation in China, but in the opposite way to that which you seem to be suggesting.

I undersatnd what you said. But here I do want someone to understand is not the story itself, but the heroine's situations in story is quite similiar to some women in real life. No matter premartial sex or adultery after marriage, almost all the moral responsibility must be blamed only on women in China. So I wonder if men can consider the poor and bitter soical situations on Chinese women's life and no words like "premarital sex the more the better" again!

Ok, that's all!

柳州哥们，你会打中文不，回头给我回个中文贴行不？我知道你说的是啥意思，但我想表述的是另外一种意思，不过，还是谢谢你啦！

[Bob Dylan Thomas]

surely what is most significant is that these things can now be talked about openly, and they aren't as taboo as they used to. It could be argued that Chinese people have always enjoyed having sex outside of marriage, but in decades past everyone just pretended it didn't happen - hence why so many men got away with rape during the Cultural Revolution, and people resorted to things like backstreet abortions etc. (as is suggested in Xinran's "Good Women of China")

Having a society where it is not so taboo just to talk about these issues means taking a step closer to a stage where women no longer have to feel that they are the criminal when they are a rape victim. And almost as importantly, where people can be given accurate, informed information about safe sex.

a very disturbing article about the activities of the Bush administration in spreading lies about safe sex, contarception, AIDS and gays was published in the Guardian today, worth reading:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1365262,00.html