The issue of "betrothal gifts" is on the hot search again! Low betrothal gift, zero betrothal gift, what do you think?

　　Chinanews.com reported on March 4 that in recent years, the issue of high-priced bride price that has been widely concerned has once again become the focus of discussion.

Recently, topics such as "Suggesting low betrothal gifts and zero betrothal gifts in rural areas", "experts saying that zero betrothal gifts are not in line with traditional wedding customs", "the Civil Affairs Bureau responded to the announcement of betrothal gifts reporting"... and other topics have been on the hot search one after another, triggering heated discussions on the Internet.

It is recommended (

　　During the National Two Sessions in 2022, many deputies to the National People's Congress proposed to curb sky-high betrothal gifts and rectify high-priced betrothal gifts in rural areas.

In the No. 1 Central Document in 2023, "high-priced betrothal gifts" were named again.

Recently, the issue of high-priced betrothal gifts is still a topic of concern to many representatives.

　　Hejian City, Hebei Province is the first batch of national experimental areas for reforming marriage customs.

Recently, Shi Bingqi, a deputy to the National People's Congress and secretary of the Party branch of Dazhuang Village, Hejian City, Hebei, said that he is preparing a proposal on the implementation of "low betrothal gifts" (in rural areas), and the content is to implement "low betrothal gifts" into practice.

Advocate "zero betrothal gift" on the basis of promoting "low betrothal gift".

　　"I visited and investigated and found that the bride price in our rural areas is 100,000 yuan, some 180,000 yuan, and some even 300,000 yuan. The bride price is relatively high. Farmers mainly rely on working and farming to obtain income, and they cannot bear the burden of more than 100,000 yuan in bride price. ."He said.

　　Regarding the reasons for the "high priced bride price" in rural areas, Shi Bingqi believes that, firstly, girls have a good face, and she thinks that a high bride price means more face; second, some girls feel that a higher bride price will increase their sense of security after marriage; third, they compare with each other As a result, "high-priced betrothal gifts" intensified.

　　He believes that the implementation of "low betrothal gifts" can start from these aspects. First, formulate the "Village Regulations and Civil Agreements", advocate "zero betrothal gifts" and achieve "low betrothal gifts".

The second is to establish a red and white council to play the role of the red and white council.

The third is to create the environment.

　　"For example, our village has built a red event hall. All young people who marry in the red event hall with "low betrothal gifts" are free to use, only get a food fee, and give them certain commendations and encouragement.

For married youths with 'zero betrothal gifts', we recommend them to their superiors to participate in collective weddings in the city and give them higher honors.

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　　Ding Zuohong, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the board of directors of Yuexing Group, also suggested that family life education and marriage education should be introduced into family education and school classrooms, and actively guide young people to establish a correct view of mate selection, and not judge by family or bride price Deep and shallow, let the sunshine concept of "marriage at the right age, prenatal and postnatal care" deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

　　At the same time, Ding Zuohong believes that it is necessary to build a fertility-friendly social environment.

It is recommended to build a group of dating and marriage service platforms that are easy for unmarried young people to participate in and have a high degree of integrity; to study the full integration of childbearing costs into the social security system, to explore the introduction of new models such as social special funds, to improve the flexible working system, and so on.

Is it feasible to implement "zero betrothal gifts"?

　　Zhongxin Finance has noticed that in recent years, many places have introduced policies to "limit the height" of betrothal gifts.

For example, Ningling County, Henan Province, as one of the first batch of national experimental areas for reforming wedding customs, incorporated wedding and funeral etiquette and customs into village regulations and civil agreements, advocating that the bride price should not exceed 30,000 yuan.

Some places advocate no more than 10,000 yuan, and some places advocate no bride price or less bride price.

So, is it feasible to implement no bride price?

　　According to Jiupai News, Gan Mantang, a professor of sociology at Fuzhou University, believes that as part of traditional wedding customs, the implementation of a complete "zero bride price" is not only inconsistent with traditional wedding customs (culture), but its feasibility still needs to be considered.

　　"When we curb high-priced betrothal gifts, we cannot go to the other extreme. Moderate betrothal gifts are also necessary," he said.

　　According to Gan Mantang’s analysis, the issue of “betrothal gifts” is not the main reason why young men in rural areas “can’t afford to marry”. Brings enormous financial pressure to get married.

"It's just that now there are high-priced betrothal gifts that are beyond the scope of the man's burden, which makes young men daunting. This should be curbed."

　　Judging from the information published in many places, through the adoption of a series of measures, unhealthy trends such as high-priced betrothal gifts and large-scale operations have been effectively suppressed.

　　A few days ago, the relevant person in charge of the Social Affairs Department of the Civil Affairs Department of Henan Province said that overall, Henan Province has solidly promoted the reform of marriage customs. Phased progress has been made.

Data map.

Photo by Nanru Dolma

Expert: To manage high-priced betrothal gifts, three pairs of relationships need to be clarified

　　According to a report by Zhonggong.com, Wang Defu, an associate professor at the China Rural Governance Research Center of Wuhan University, wrote an article saying that the governance of high-priced betrothal gifts is a systematic project.

　　Wang Defu believes that regarding the issue of high-priced betrothal gifts, there are three pairs of relationships that need to be clarified:

　　One is the "small gift" and "big gift".

"Small betrothal gift" is a betrothal gift in a narrow sense. It is a dowry gift given by the man to the woman's family. The customs vary from place to place, and the content and form of gift are different.

The "big bride price" can be regarded as the man's family expenses including all marriage costs, the most typical one is the wedding car and house.

　　The second is "betrothal gift competition" and "marriage competition".

Gender imbalance brought about by economic differentiation and population flow, and the resulting regional marriage squeeze and marriage competition are deep structural factors that boost the rise of bride price.

　　The third is "marriage risk" and "marriage risk".

One of the original meanings of the bride price is the guarantee of the conclusion of the marriage contract. In the era of gender inequality, it is a risk-proof means for the woman to prevent the man from breaking the marriage contract at will and harming herself.

Now, the attributes of betrothal gifts have fundamentally changed.

People hope that the bride price not only guarantees the marriage contract, but also guarantees a lifetime of happiness.

　　"For remote and impoverished areas with underdeveloped economies and some areas where the custom of dowry competition exists, high-priced dowry will aggravate the outbreak of regional marriage problems and overdraw the risk prevention capabilities of peasant families." He believes that what we need to do to make The price paid by individuals and society is smaller, and smaller.

(China New Finance and Economics)