Abstract
We study the attitudes and behaviors of young people in modern China in their search for love and long-term romantic relationships. Using a sample of 128 Chinese males and females living in China and abroad, survey responses were analyzed to examine their willingness to approach and be approached by the opposite sex, the length of time needed to establish serious relationships, their tolerance toward hookups, as well as their preferences in meeting potential partners and dating activities. Males were more willing to approach females and felt more enjoyment to be approached by females compared to females, with a statistically very significant difference between the two genders (p<0.01 in both instances). Females appeared to require a longer time to establish serious relationships than males, with a statistically significant difference between the two (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the level of tolerance toward hookups between males and females. Categorizing the respondents into several age groups and across four geographical regions did not reveal any statistically significant differences either in terms of their attitudes toward these queries. When it comes to the place to meet partners, schools and colleges are on the top of the list (86%), with eating out as the most preferable activity during dating (95%). Males were expected to pay more during the first date (55%), whereas splitting the bills between the two would be more appropriate as the relationships became more stable (56%). Nearly half of our participants prefer not to have any physical contact before establishing any serious relationships, and three-quarters mentioned that the purpose of dating is to get married. Although it could be a little bit surprising for many people who come from a different background, particularly Western culture, the outcome of this study is nonetheless intriguing. Despite globalization, modernization, rapid economic growth, urbanization, and high level of education, many youths in contemporary China appeared to maintain a high moral standard and traditional value of romantic relationships, while some of them seemed to adopt a more western-style of dating and relationships.