Abstract Spouse selection is a common practice throughout human history. This process of selecting ideal spouse contains profound cultural and social meanings. Though following some common practices, people in different cultures may vary in their choice of a mate. The essence of this study lies in the different value dimensions between Chinese and Western countries. To study the differences of spouse selection is actually to study the differences of female cultures between china and western countries. This paper is intended to make a comparative study of spouse selection between Western and Chinese females. In addition, a tentative predication on trend of mate selection is also touched upon.54286
Keywords: Chinese and Western countries; spouse selection; value dimensions; cultural differences
摘要在人类历史上,择偶是一种普遍的实践形式,同时,择偶还蕴含了较为深刻的社会和文化意义。尽管有许多共通之处,但处于不同文化中的人们在择偶方面还是会各有不同。本次研究实际上是基于中西方之间不同的价值维度。谈中西方女性择偶观念的疏同 ,实质上是对中西方所展示的女性文化加以比较。本文以霍夫斯泰德的文化价值维度对中西方女性的择偶观的差异性进行初步研究,并对择偶观的发展作出初步的预测。
毕业论文关键词:中西方;择偶;价值维度;文化差异
Contents
1 Introduction 1
1.1Significance and Purpose of the Study 1
1.2 Structure of the Thesis 1
2. Literature Review 2
2.1 Studies on Spouse Selection 2
2.2 Hofstede’s Value Dimensions 3
3. Differences of Spouse Selection between Chinese and Western Females 4
3.1 Differences in Interpersonal Relationship 4
3.2 Differences in Uncertainty Avoidance 5
3.3 Differences in Inpidualism and Collectivism 5
3.4 Differences in Masculinity and Femininity 6
4 Reasons that Bring about these Differences 7
4.1 Natural Environment 7
4.2 Religious Beliefs 8
4.3 Historical Traditions 9
4.4 Moral Values 10
5. Conclusion 11
Works Cited 13
1 Introduction
1.1Significance and Purpose of the Study
Spouse selection is a critical step to marriage, which is the central building block of family hence the basis of society. Spouse selection is a part of culture; factors regarded as important in one culture are not in the other. Chinese people think age, height, marital status really matters in spouse selection, while people in the west give top priority to religion, ethnic background and romantic love. These differences are caused by cultural pattern.
Spouse selection, the initial of marriage, reflects the differences of marriage culture in different ethnic groups. Due to the difference of Chinese and western history and culture, there are an array of differences in Chinese and western spouse selection ranging from age and height to social values and belief in life. In modern times, the exchanges of Chinese and western countries are increasingly frequent; to improve the quality of intercultural communication between nations, understanding the differences between Chinese and western culture is becoming more and more significant. People from different countries can fully understand each other and respect each other's customs, which can led to the best effect of intercultural communication.