A large number of Chinese are living as married couples with prior agreement to separate if one partner so desires and to control their sexual behaviour.
BEIJING: Sex is gradually losing its status as a taboo subject in China, heralding major changes in people’s attitudes toward sex. A large number of Chinese are getting into a relationship that they call “living apart together” — living the life of a married couple with prior agreement to separate if one partner so desires and to control their sexual behaviour.
Han Lin had a “sex agreement” with her husband prior to their marriage. The pact says neither of them is obliged to have sex with the other and if one of them refuses, the other would not force the issue. Both are free to have new partners and if either has had sex with a new partner and is willing to live with that person, the two would stop cohabiting. She says several couples, married and unmarried, have signed similar agreements.
While there are differing views of the degree of such a “revolution”, academic experts agree that since China began to open itself up, sex has gradually lost its status as a taboo subject. In 1980, two events helped to promote the changing attitude toward sex. One was the promulgation of the new marriage law. Now, divorce is granted in two cases: first, where mutual affection no longer exists and, second, when mediation fails. The other important issue was that in 1980 China adopted its “family planning and one child” policy.
A survey of university students last year found that 62 per cent think premarital sex is acceptable as long as it occurs between true lovers; 85 per cent think it’s not obligatory for sex partners to marry if they do not wish to; 60 per cent are tolerant of homosexuality; while 62 per cent believe that the stress on virginity is a restriction on human nature.
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