Speaker: Weiwen LAI (MPhil student in Gender Studies and Sociology, CUHK)

Chairperson: Jing SONG (Assistant Professor, Gender Studies Programme, CUHK)

Language: English

Registration: goo.gl/ZihfLV

Abstract: The rise of non-marital cohabitation is one of marked characteristics of the second demographic transition and the deinstitutionalization of marriage institution in Europe and North America. China also has also witnessed an increasing number of non-martial cohabitation in the post-socialist era. Sociologists and family demographers have long debated whether cohabitation signals the changing nature of intimate relationship and changing meaning of marriage. The pattern of cohabitation union formation and transition in China may differ from those in Western nations because of the distinctive sociocultural context and legal regulation. Another important debate in the scholarship of cohabitation is the relationship between gender equalities and cohabiting relationship: whether cohabitating relationship is more egalitarian than conventional marriage. Following these two debates, this study is investigating cohabitation phenomenon in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong as field site. In addition to participation observation, the study has conducted 20 in-depth semi-structured interviews to address three following research questions: a) how do cohabitation unions come into formation; b) how do cohabitors view their relationship change; c) what is the role of gender in cohabiting relationship. Research findings as well as theoretical implications will be discussed.

Speaker’s Biography: Weiwen LAI is a M.Phil student in Gender Studies Programme and Department of Sociology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research interests include intimate relationship. His thesis aims for a deeper and clearer understanding of non-martial cohabitation as a newly prevailing form of intimate relationship relative to marriage. His works are presented several times at professional conferences.