The Forming Mechanism Of Unmarried Elderly Women

Currently. "Leftover Woman Crisis"’has been a hot topic to talk about. There are a growing number of women, who have received good degree and high income, choose to be single in the city. And some of them follow the non-marriage doctrine. The previous literature mostly focuses on the issue from economic, demographic and sociological perspectives, which ignores the importance of consistency and people’s initiative. The society should pay more attention to unmarried elderly women’s real life, listening to their stories, rather than stigmatizing and labeling the group.The thesis indicates the severe situation of China’s marriage market by analyzing the census data and shows the real life of unmarried elderly women by doing in-depth interviews. The thesis is based on Marriage Market Theory, Social Exchange Theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory and Spouse Choosing Gradient Theory, focusing on the background, social network and mate selection practice of unmarried elderly women. The thesis tries.to explain the cause and influence of spouse choosing failure and finds the forming mechanism of unmarried situation.The thesis results in many dimensions:1、First, sex ratio imbalance at birth results in serious marriage squeezing. China’s marriage market is faced with male overpopulation crisis rather than female overpopulation problem. The leftover woman is a misleading concept. Unmarried women still believe the spouse choosing gradient principles and want to find a partner with excellent background. However, outstanding unmarried men are limited, so it is hard for urban women and rural men to find suitable partners.2、Second, both macro and micro factors contribute to the forming mechanism of unmarried situation. On the macro view, nowadays women have a higher economic position and most of them can be totally self-sufficient. They step out of families and play an important part in social life. They have the right to choose their own existence. Furthermore, family functions are loosening. Getting married and having children are not necessary for everyone. People living in big cities have a cool relationship with each other. Nobody cares about who you are or what you do. It is free to be single. On the micro view, the unmarried result is a game between individuals, parents, peers and potential mates. Individuals have the initiative in spouse choosing, and other people’s opinions and actions have very important effects on the decision.3、The desolating image of unmarried elderly woman is a myth perpetuated by the media. Most of them live a comfortable life and have a harmony relationship with parents. Sometimes the family members are divided in spouse choosing, but they try the best to respect and understand each other.4、More and more people use the online dating websites, such as Jiayuan, Baihe, Douban, Weibo, Wechat and BBS. Some new platforms are famous for high efficiency, broad appeal and perfect match. Now unmarried elderly women seek partners with an open mind. Some of them are willing to buy services from these platforms.