Interview: Women’s Attitudes Towards Marriage in Generation Z

Introduction:
This research is based on an in-depth interview with a 23-year-old Generation Z woman, focusing on her attitudes and motivations towards marriage and the social and cultural influences behind it.

Basic Information
– Age: 23
– Occupation/Background: Dance Teacher / Screen dance
– Current Marital Status: Single
– Growing up / Living in: Shanghai / London / Singapore

Marriage attitude and motivation

1. What is your current attitude towards marriage?
   Let nature take its course.
2. If you are inclined not to get married (or not considering marriage for a while), what are the main reasons behind it? (Optional or supplementary)
   I want to think about marriage after I am financially and professionally independent, rather than relying on marriage or partner assets. After all, marriage is often related to childbearing and family responsibilities, and requires adequate financial and psychological preparation.
   I haven’t met anyone who can be a “life partner.” My ideal partnership is one of equality, mutual support, and mutual growth, rather than the role allocation that relies on the patriarchal structure of traditional marriage.
3. What is your ideal relationship? Do you find that difficult to achieve in reality?
   The ideal is to support each other’s career development, have a basic sense of gender equality, and respect each other’s space and independence. Even if they are busy, they can invest their emotions in a limited time, take the initiative to develop ways of getting along, and have a continuous exchange of ideas.
   In reality, it is a little difficult to achieve, and I have not met such a person.

Social and cultural factors

4. Did you grow up with the idea that you had to get married? From whom? How is it reflected?
   Yes, from almost all my relatives. Every time I go back to my hometown to see my grandparents, they will say, “You should almost find someone to fall in love and get married.” Grandma used to say, “Wait for me to bring my boyfriend home.” When I was in junior high school, my father said that I would marry myself before the age of 25. But most of these ideas come from older women.
5. When you express the idea that you don’t want to get married or don’t think about getting married yet, what is the usual reaction of your family or others?
   My mom would call me “sick” and she thinks marriage is a “stage of life” that every woman should complete.
6. How are unmarried women perceived in your group of friends or in your work environment?
   It’s normal. Most of my friends around me are older than me, and in their eyes I am still young and still have time to find a boyfriend. They weren’t married themselves, so they were very tolerant.

Structural stress and self-identity

7. Have you been questioned or influenced by your marital/reproductive status in your job or job search?
   Not really.
8. Do you think “no marriage” means a freer life? Is there a “free but passive” part?
   Not being married is not freedom. True freedom comes from intellectual independence and economic independence. The key is your ability to develop consistently in a free lifestyle, not the label of marriage or not.

Review and imagination

9. Do you think your attitude toward marriage would change if there were no social pressure?
   No.
10. Has anyone had a profound impact on your view of marriage? What are some of their actions or experiences that stand out to you?
    My ballet teacher influenced my view of love as a child. I witnessed her falling in love, getting married and giving birth. She was very happy when she was in love, but her state deteriorated significantly after marriage, which made me realize that marriage and love are completely different.
    And my boss, she and her husband have a good relationship, but in the face of her husband’s family birth, she once said: “Other people’s mothers will always be other people’s mothers.” When she found out that it was difficult to get pregnant, the only person who really cared about her was her own mother.

Free expression

11. If you could say one thing to your “future self” or “your friend who is struggling to get married,” what would it be?
    If you’re struggling, you’re not ready for marriage. The right person will not let you hesitate, wait until you meet the person who makes you firmly want to get married, and then decide.
12. If you could convey one point of view to society about women and marriage choice, what would it be?
    Women do not live to complete the task of marriage, but to pursue love, freedom and self-worth. Marriage should be a choice in growing up, not a destination in life.

Open-ended question: What is your ideal life at age 30?
I have a basically formed career direction and life goals, a stable and healthy relationship, and an independent and ideal financial state.