The Influence of Individualism on Youth's View of Marriage in China

With the advancement of social modernization, individualism—a value system that emphasizes personal autonomy, self-realization, and individual rights—has increasingly influenced the marriage concepts of the younger generation in China. The traditional marriage model, which centered on the family and collective responsibility, has gradually been replaced by a new conception of marriage that gives precedence to emotional fulfillment, personal compatibility, and equitable reciprocity. Individualism has prompted young people to place greater emphasis on self-actualization in their choice of a marriage partner, weakening the normative and functional aspects of marriage and giving rise to diverse marital forms such as late marriage, non-marriage, and cohabitation. At the same time, individualism has also promoted the emotionalization and equalization of marital relationships, as young people increasingly seek to establish intimate partnerships based on mutual respect and open communication. However, changes in values have also contributed to the declining stability of the marriage system, a continued drop in the birth rate, and increasingly fragmented family structures, which in turn have affected the functioning of the social security system and the adjustment of population policies. Therefore, in the face of the tension between individualism and the traditional marriage system, the state should promote reforms to the marriage system and optimize public policies, based on respect for the individual choices of young people, in order to ensure the sustainable stability and development of society.