This dissertation addresses the ways in which government policies and agendas, media
representations, local histories and perceptions influence marriage patterns across the Taiwan
Strait. While socio-economic interactions between the Republic of China (Taiwan or ROC) and
the Peoples Republic of China (PRC or Mainland China) have deepened in recent years, both
governments continue to often have conflicting agendas and policies aimed at supporting their
own goals. As a result, Taiwan promotes a policy of careful interaction with Mainland China
which is reflected in Taiwans strict immigration policies with regard to Mainland brides who are
considered a threat to Taiwans population quality (renkou suzhi).
The PRC, on the other hand, has established policies aimed at increasing economic and
social integration with Taiwan. Taiwanese men on the Mainland enjoy preferential treatment,
particularly in Chinas Special Economic Zones. As more people travel across the Taiwan Strait,
the number of cross-Strait (PRC-ROC), marriages have increased on the Mainland. Traditional
marriage and kinship practices such as patrilocal marriages are often cited as primary factors in
influencing womens place in Chinese society (Davin 2008, Johnson 1983, Lu 1997, Watson
1991). However, a Mainland woman who marries a Taiwanese man and sets up a household
near her natal home can have a very different experience. This practice, in turn, has in some
cases led to more flexibility with regard to gender roles and mutual upward social mobility for
both partners on the Mainland.
Finally this dissertation contributes to the academic literature regarding cross-border
marriage and global hypergamy, which usually refers to women from less developed, poorer
regions who attempt to marry up by finding husbands in a more developed, richer area
(Constable 2005). In this study, I consider a very different situation; men who migrate from a
more developed region (Taiwan) to areas that are being developed (SEZs). While most did not
migrate for the express purpose of marrying, these unions formed as a result of the migration
process. Examining these relationships reveal some interesting insights into the ways that recent shifts in the global economic landscape related to Chinas economy influence marriage patterns
and marital relations.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-03232011-101635 |
| Date | 06 June 2011 |
| Creators | Cichosz, Joseph Leo |
| Contributors | Dr. Gabrella Lukacs, Dr. Cheris Chan, Dr. Nicole Constable, Dr. Andrew Strathern |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-03232011-101635/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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