“Shengnü” (“leftover women”) has become a popular discourse in China during recent years. In existing literature and media coverage, discussion on shengnü often draws on population gender imbalance, western individualization theories, and women’s “too picky” mating criteria. Seeing beyond these perspectives, this research aims to problematize the myth of shengnü by explicating how this social phenomenon indicates the changing gender landscape and emerging new femininity in modern China. The empirical study is based on in-depth interviews with 36 women regarding their lived experience of partner selection through xiangqin (matchmaking). Their experience of participating in commercial xiangqin (matchmaking websites, matchmaking fairs, high-end matchmaking clubs, marriage hunting, and matchmaking TV shows) and parents-arranged xiangqin are investigated. Findings in the research demonstrate that empowered by a series of social structural changes in reform-era China, modern women have rising expectations in partner selection and they possess greater control over intimate relationship. It is argued that xiangqin in contemporary China provides a stage for rising new Chinese femininity characterized by pragmatic idealism. To maximize their gain in the marriage market, from modern commercialized xiangqin to “old fashioned” parents-arranged xiangqin, modern Chinese women proactively seize every opportunity to approach potential partners. However, while engaging in xiangqin, the practice in which the purpose of partner selection is directly and pragmatically foregrounded, they have not given up the romantic pursuit in their relationship ideal. The central discourse of “gan jue (感觉feelings)” in their mating concerns suggests that they consciously avoid downgrading themselves as slaves of pragmatism and proudly distinguish themselves from women of pervious generations who satisfy with conventional pattern of intimacy that centers on “da huo guo ri zi (搭伙过日子making a mundane living together)”. When dealing with intergenerational dynamics in partner selection, although they make conditional compromise pertaining to intimacy and resource flows between generations, they also demarcate their non-negotiable territory. This research helps to problematize the indefinable essence and transcendental nature in Western theorization of love; it also contributes to question existing literature that pragmatism and materialism dominate contemporary Chinese love culture under the context of market economy. It reveals that constraining cultural and structural forces still limit single women’s bargaining power in current Chinese society; and modern Chinese women make different kinds of adjustments to expand their life opportunities. Through frankly articulating their materially grounded concerns in partner selection, they redefine romance in precarious social environment and stage new morality in post-socialist China. By sticking to a “bu cou huo (不凑合no compromise)” stance in their pursuit of love, they demonstrate their persistence and strength as modern Chinese women. Their relevant site-specific femininity performance also exemplifies the flexibility of modern women in achieving their life ambitions. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

張小蘭. / "2007年8月". / 論文(哲學碩士)--香港中文大學, 2007. / 參考文獻(leaves 135-138). / "2007 nian 8 yue". / Abstract also in English. / Zhang Xiaolan. / Lun wen (zhe xue shuo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2007. / Can kao wen xian (leaves 135-138). / Chapter 第一章 --- 導言 --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- 研究課題 --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- 文獻回顧 --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- 硏究方法 --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4 --- 硏究對象 --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- 硏究地點的選擇 --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- 受訪者資料 --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5 --- 論文大綱 --- p.13 / Chapter 第二章 --- 護工歷史與女性就業 --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1 --- 護工職能/職業的發展 --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2 --- “護工´ح的定義 --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3 --- 護工群體特點 --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- 護工群體的共性 --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- 農村現况與城市中的境遇 --- p.24 / Chapter 2.4 --- 護工的組織與聯繫 --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- 護工群體的正式組織 --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- 護工群體的非正式組織與聯繫 --- p.30 / Chapter 2.5 --- 小結：城鄉差距造就不平等的機遇 --- p.31 / Chapter 第三章 --- 醫院系統與公司下的權力結構 --- p.33 / Chapter 3.1 --- 全景敞視下的醫院系統 --- p.35 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- 醫院系統 --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- 總務處 --- p.41 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- 護士長、護士、醫生 --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- 病人與病人家屬 --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2 --- 護工公司的角色 --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- 招收及培訓 --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- 檢查與獎罰 --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- 分工與規訓 --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- 福利與援助 --- p.59 / Chapter 3.3 --- 權力結構下的團結力量 --- p.60 / Chapter 3.4 --- 小結：全景敞視下的抗爭 --- p.62 / Chapter 第四章 --- 主體性：面對國家、資本與父權 --- p.64 / Chapter 4.1 --- 女性的生命歷程 --- p.65 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- 婚姻模式選擇 --- p.65 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- 婚姻一一突變的身份 --- p.69 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- 丈夫與婆婆 --- p.70 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- 中國農村中的女性 --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2 --- 主體性與性別表演 --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- “良母´ح與“賢妻´ح --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- 中國農村的家庭觀 --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- “能頂半邊天´ح的女性 --- p.79 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- 未來計劃與戶籍制度 --- p.81 / Chapter 4.3 --- 能動性與資本獲得 --- p.84 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- 作爲經濟來源提供者的女性 --- p.85 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- 同ˇёإ網絡中的女性群體 --- p.88 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- 兩種轉變的平衡 --- p.90 / Chapter 4.4 --- 小結：面對國家、資本與父權 --- p.92 / Chapter 第五章 --- 社會與個體的女性特質 --- p.94 / Chapter 5.1 --- 1949年後中國大陸婦女政策與性別政治文化 --- p.96 / Chapter 5.2 --- 變動的女性特質 --- p.101 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- 傳統女性特質一一護工職業的入場券 --- p.102 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- 學做職業女性一一發展職業素養 --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- 延續的女性特質一一農村文化影響 --- p.109 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- 漂亮而愧疾的媽媽一一城市生活的影響 --- p.113 / Chapter 5.3 --- 小結：工作與家庭一一女性特質的循環加强 --- p.114 / Chapter 第六章 --- 結論 --- p.116 / 參考書目 --- p.135

李泳萱. / "2008年4月". / "2008 nian 4 yue". / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 161-171). / Abstract also in English. / Li Yongxuan. / Abstract --- p.i / 論文摘要 --- p.iii / 致謝 --- p.v / 論文目錄 --- p.viii / Chapter 第一章 --- 硏究意義和目的：一些現實與理論的背景 --- p.1 / Chapter 第二章 --- 理論架構 --- p.9 / Chapter 第三章 --- 硏究問題 --- p.23 / Chapter 第四章 --- 硏究方法 --- p.27 / Chapter 第五章 --- 硏究田野背景資料 --- p.38 / Chapter 第六章 --- 師生關係與女性氣質論述 --- p.50 / Chapter 第七章 --- 性態論述與性別關係 --- p.83 / Chapter 第八章 --- 學業表現與女性氣質論述 --- p.110 / Chapter 第九章 --- 論文討論及總結 --- p.145 / 參考文獻 --- p.161 / Reference --- p.162