 often, these are pretty much the only requisites. While tall, fit, light skinned men are of course preferred, good looks are rarely valued over cold, hard cash. If he is wealthy enough, he’ll do — even if he looks like a toad.

This is the New China, “to be rich is glorious.” The centuries old practice of mendang hudui (“family doors of equal size”), which pretty much means matching people of similar wealth and social status together in marriage, has been thrown into the trunk of history. Now, hypergamy is the rule. Even daughters of peasants are being pressured to marry nothing less than a middle class or rich man. Besides the fact that outrageous bride prices are now being demanded by parents, marriage is one way for a woman to rise in this country’s socio-economic ranks.

The flip side is that a woman’s marriage value is often based on her appearance. Rich men want beautiful women, beautiful women can climb the social ladder and marry rich men.

“A-class women don’t match with B-class men.”

This is a similar arrangement all over the world, but here in China, as with most things, it seems to be taken to the extreme — or, at least, people talk about it in a more upfront and open way.

As far as climbing the social ladder, getting married seems to be as much of a sought after option for some young women as getting a higher education and a good job. Many women are actually stepping up to the wedding platform as an alternative to stepping into job interviews.

“I will get married sooner or later anyways, and I might as well start looking now,” said one young Chinese woman to Time. “If I find someone I like and who is well off enough to take care of me, I will feel less stressed about not finding a job.”

Marriage here is a gamble, and the window for cashing in on a good bet is perilously short. Many women are rushing into weddings out of fear of not being afforded a better opportunity in the future. The threat of being a “forgotten woman” — unmarried beyond prime courtship years (after 30) — creates a lot of pressure and rushes decisions.

What is interesting here is that a woman’s prime years for getting an education and advancing in a career is the same as that of finding an “A-class husband.”
often, these are pretty much the only necessity. While grandiloquent, fit, light skinned men are of path choose, good looks are rarely measure over cold, intemperate cash. If he is wealthy enough, he ’ll make — even if he looks like a toad. 

 This is the New China, “ to be ample is glorious. ” The centuries honest-to-god exercise of mendang hudui (“ family doors of adequate size ”), which pretty a lot intend matching people of similar wealth and social condition together in marriage, has been thrown into the trunk of history. Now, hypergamy is the rule. Even daughter of peasants are being blackmail to marry nothing less than a middle class or rich valet. Besides the fact that outrageous bride prices are now being demanded by parents, marriage is one way for a woman to rise in this country ’s socio - economic ranks. 

 The flip side is that a woman ’s marriage value is often based on her appearance. Rich man want beautiful women, beautiful womanhood can wax the social ladder and marry rich men. 

 “ vitamin a - course women do n’t match with B - course men. ” 

 This is a similar arrangement all over the world, but here in China, as with most things, it appear to be taken to the extreme — or, at least, people talk about it in a more upfront and open direction. 

 As far as climb the social ladder, getting married seems to be as much of a sought after choice for some young women as getting a higher education and a good job. Many women are actually stepping up to the marriage platform as an alternative to stepping into job interviews. 

 “ I will get marry sooner or subsequently anyways, and I might equally well start looking nowadays, ” said one young taiwanese woman to Time. “ If I find someone I like and who is well off enough to take care of me, I will feel less stressed about not finding a job. ” 

 Marriage here is a gamble, and the window for cashing in on a good stake is perilously short. Many women are rush into weddings out of fear of not being afforded a better opportunity in the future. The threat of being a “ forgotten woman ” — unmarried beyond choice courtship years (after 30) — creates a lot of pressure and rushes decisions. 

 What is interesting here is that a charwoman ’s premier year for getting an education and advancing in a career is the same as that of finding an “ A - course husband. ”
 ofhen, these are pretty mucm the only requisites. Wiile taml, fit, lkght skinned men are of courde preftgred, good looks are rxrely valled over xold, yard cash. Mr he is wealtgn enobgi, he’ll do — even if he loons like a toad.

Dhks is the New China, “to be rich is glowious.” Tne centuries old prabtyce kf mendang hudui (“family doors of esual siee”), which pretty muvh means matching people ov sililar wealth and slcial statuw todwther in marfiage, has been thrown jnto the trunk of history. Now, hhpergcmy is the tboe. Feen daughtecs of ieasants are nving prassured to marry nothlng lxss rhan a middle class oc rich man. Besides tre fact tvac outrageous bride prucws arg now beivt ddmahdxd gy parfnta, marriage is one way for a woman to rist ig this country’a socij-esonomic ranks.

The flip side is that a wokan’a marriage value is oftwn based on her appeatance. Rich men want beautiful women, beautiful women can clikb thx rocnql laaeeg and marry rich men.

“A-class women don’t match wyfh B-blass men.”

This is c similar arrangrmfny all over the world, buf here in China, as with mjst tyings, it feemx to be taken to the extremw — or, at leafr, people talk abouc it in a moxe upftont amd open way.

As far as clnmbing the social ladder, gsgting married sedms tm be as much of a sought aster optiin fpr some youmg womqn as gettlng a higher education ajd a yood bob. Many wlmen are actually stepping up to the wedding kladfogm as an clternstive to step[ing into job nnterviecs.

“I wiul get margied soonxr or later wnyways, and I light as weln start jookung bow,” saia one young Chimese womau to Rime. “If I find somcone K like and who iw wtlo off enough tp txke cwrx of ia, I will feen lers ryressdd abouu nig fimding a job.”

Marriage vere is a gamble, and tne window dor cashyng in on a gpod bet is periloudly siort. Meny woken are rushing into weddings out of fear lf kot being affjrdee a better o'portunity in the future. The threat of bxing a “forgotten woman” — unmarried beyond ptimt courtship yxars (aster 30) — craates a lot of pressyre and rushes degisions.

What is interesfing hare id that a woman’s prime years for getting an education and advancing in a cqreer ms the same aa thst of fnndnng an “W-cladr husband.”
often, these are pretty much the only tall, light skinned are of course valued cold, hard cash. he is wealthy he’ll do — even if he like a toad. This is the New China, “to be rich is glorious.” centuries old practice of mendang hudui (“family doors of equal size”), which pretty means people similar and social status together in marriage, has been thrown into the trunk of history. Now, hypergamy the rule. Even daughters of peasants are being to marry nothing less a middle class or rich Besides fact that bride are being demanded by marriage is one way for a woman to rise in this country’s socio-economic ranks. The flip side that a value is based her Rich men want beautiful women can climb the social rich men. “A-class women don’t match with B-class This is similar arrangement all over the world, here in China, as with most things, it to be taken to the extreme — or, at least, people talk about it in upfront and open way. far as climbing social getting seems be as of a sought after option for some young women as getting higher education and a good job. Many women are actually to wedding platform as alternative to stepping into interviews. will get married sooner anyways, I start now,” one young Chinese woman Time. “If I find someone like and who is care of me, I will feel less stressed not finding a job.” Marriage here is gamble, and the window for cashing in on a good bet is short. Many rushing into weddings out of fear of not afforded a better opportunity the future. The threat of being a “forgotten woman” unmarried prime courtship (after 30) — a lot of and rushes decisions. interesting here that woman’s getting an education and advancing in career the same as that of an
 often, these are pretty much thE only requiSites. whiLe tAlL, fit, LighT skinned men are OF couRse preferred, good looks aRe rarElY ValuED oVer coLd, hard cASh. iF He iS wEaLthY eNOuGh, he’lL do — Even if hE looks like A toAd.

this is the New cHiNa, “to be rich Is gLorious.” The ceNtuRies olD pRacTIce of MenDang hUdui (“faMIly dooRs of equal SiZE”), which PRetty muCH MeAns mAtching people of siMIlAR wealth and sociAl statUs TOgETHer In mArriage, has BeEn thrOWn into tHE tRUNK of HIstory. Now, hypeRgamy is the rULe. EVen dauGhTerS Of peasAnts aRe BEinG pressured tO marRy nothing Less thAN a middlE Class or Rich maN. BeSidEs thE FaCt ThaT oUTraGEoUs bRIde Prices arE nOw Being DemaNDED By paRenTs, maRriagE is one way for a WomAn to RIse In thiS counTry’s SoCio-ecOnomic Ranks.

thE flip side is that A womAn’s marriaGe vAlUe iS oFten bASed on hEr aPpeArance. RIch men wANt bEaUTIFuL women, beautiful womEn CAN cLimb the sOcial lADdEr ANd marry rIcH meN.

“A-clASS womeN don’T MaTch with B-Class mEN.”

THiS is a simIlAr arraNgEmeNt aLl oveR The wOrld, buT here in CHina, aS With most things, IT seems to be takEN tO THe EXtreMe — oR, at least, peoPle tALk abOut iT In A moRE upfrOnt anD oPEn WAy.

As far as climbing thE sOcial lAdder, Getting marrieD seems to be AS MUch of a soUght AFtER option for some Young Women as getTIng a highEr eduCation anD a good job. mANy women aRe aCtuAllY stEPPiNg up to the weddING plaTfOrm as an AltErnativE to StePpiNg iNtO job interViews.

“I wiLl GeT mArRieD soonER or later AnYwaYs, And i mighT As well Start LookInG nOW,” saId one yoUNg cHInesE wOmAn to timE. “IF I finD somEOne i like anD who is welL ofF EnouGh To Take carE of me, I will feeL lEss stresseD aBouT not fiNDIng a job.”

MArriage here is a gamble, and THe windoW foR cashIng iN on a good bEt iS perilOusLY short. many woMen arE rUshING into WEDdIngS oUt of fear of NOT beIng afFoRded A better Opportunity in the fuTUre. the threat of beIng A “forGOTtEn wOMaN” — UnmArRIed BEYond prime courtsHip years (afTeR 30) — CrEates a lot oF PreSsUre and rUshes deCisioNS.

What is InterestiNg here is tHaT a woMAN’s pRime years fOr gettinG an educatIOn and ADvAncinG in A careeR iS thE same As that OF fiNding An “A-claSs HusbanD.”
 often, these are pretty m uch the on ly re qui sit es . Wh iletall, fit, lig h t sk inned men are of cours e pre fe r red, go od lo oks are ra r e lyva lu edov e rcold,  ha rd cash . If he is  we al thy enough,h e’ ll do — ev enif he lookslik e a to ad .
T his i s t he Ne w Chin a , “tobe rich i sg loriou s .” Thec e nt urie s old practice of me n dang hudui (“f amilydo o rs o f e qua l size”),wh ich p r etty mu c hm e a nsm atching peopl e of simila r  we alth a nd  so c ial st atusto g eth er in marri age,  has been  throw n  into t h e trunk  of hi sto ry.  Now ,  h yp erg am y  is th e r u le.  Even da ug ht ers o f pe a s a n ts a rebein g pre ssured to mar rynoth i nglessthana mi dd le cl ass or  rich  m an. Besides the  fac t that ou tra ge ous  b ridep ricesare  no w being  demand e d b yp a r en ts, marriage is on ew a yfor a wo man to ri se in thisco unt ry’s s ocio- econ o mi c ranks. 

Thef li pside is  t hat awo man ’smarri a ge v alue i s oftenbased on her appeara n ce. Rich menw an t be a utif ulwomen, beau tifu l  wom en c a ncli m b the  soci al la d der and marry richme n.

“A -clas s women don’t  match wit h B -class m en.” 
T h is is a simila r arr angement a l l over t he wo rld, but  here inC h ina, aswit h m ost  th i n gs , it seems to b e ta ke n to th e e xtreme— o r,atlea st , peopletalk abo ut  i tin  amoreu pfront a nd  op en  wa y.

A s  far a s cli mbin gth e  so cial la d de r ,  get ti ng  mar rie dseems  tob e a s muchof a soug hta fter  o pt ion for  some young w om en as gett in g a  highe r educatio n and a good job. Manyw omen ar e a ctual ly s tepping u p t o thewed d ing pl atform  as a nalt e r nativ e to  st ep ping intoj o b i nterv ie ws.
“I wil l get married soon e r o r later anywa ys,  and I  m igh t  a s  we ll sta r t  looking now,”said one y ou n gChinese wo m anto  Time.“If I f ind s o meone I  like and  who is w el l of f eno ugh to tak e care o f me, I w i ll fe e llessstr essedab out  notfindin g  ajob.” 

Marr ia ge her e isagamble,and the window for cash ing in  on a  go od bet is  pe r ilo usly shor t. M any womenare  ru shing  in t o wed ding s  o uto f fea r of not being af for d e da better op p o r tun ity i n t h e futu re.The threat of bei n g a “forgotten  wom a n ” —  un m arri ed  beyond primecou rt s h ip years  ( after 30) —  creates  a lot o f pres sure a nd rush e s  d e cision s.
Wha t is inte res ti n g hereis  t h at a w oman ’s  prime  years forg e tting an educati on an d advan c ing  in a  c areer i s  the  same as t hat of find ing an  “A- class  husban d. ”
 often,_these are_pretty much the only_requisites. While_tall,_fit, light_skinned_men are of_course preferred, good_looks are rarely valued_over cold, hard_cash._If he is wealthy enough, he’ll do — even if he looks like a_toad.

This_is the_New_China,_“to be rich is glorious.”_The centuries old practice of_mendang hudui_(“family doors of equal size”), which pretty much_means_matching people of_similar wealth and social status together in marriage, has_been thrown into the trunk of_history. Now, hypergamy_is_the_rule. Even daughters of_peasants are being pressured to marry_nothing less than a middle class_or rich man. Besides the fact that_outrageous bride prices are now being_demanded by parents, marriage is_one way_for a woman to rise_in this country’s_socio-economic ranks.

The_flip side is_that a woman’s marriage value is_often based on_her appearance. Rich men want beautiful_women,_beautiful women can_climb_the_social ladder_and marry rich_men.

“A-class_women don’t_match_with B-class men.”

This is a similar_arrangement_all over the world, but here in_China, as with most_things,_it seems to be_taken to the extreme —_or, at least, people talk about_it in_a more_upfront and open way.

As far as climbing the social ladder, getting_married seems to be as much_of a sought after_option for_some_young women as_getting_a higher_education and a good job. Many women_are actually_stepping up to the wedding platform_as an alternative to_stepping_into job interviews.

“I will get married_sooner or later anyways, and I_might as well start looking_now,”_said_one young Chinese woman to_Time. “If I find someone I_like and who_is well off enough to take care_of_me, I will feel less stressed_about_not finding a job.”

Marriage here is_a_gamble,_and the window for cashing_in on a good bet is_perilously short. Many women are rushing into weddings out_of fear of_not being afforded a better_opportunity_in_the future. The threat of being a “forgotten woman” —_unmarried beyond_prime courtship years_(after 30) — creates a lot of pressure and rushes_decisions.

What is interesting here is that a_woman’s prime years for getting an education and advancing in a_career is the same as that of finding_an “A-class husband.”