South China's Guangdong Province saw nearly 100, 000 get divorced in the past four years and an increase of 20 percent in overall divorce rate. Of all divorces 70 percent were proposed by wives. Experts say, simplified procedure, fast social transformation and conception changes among men and women are important reasons for the soaring divorce rate.

Marriage has always been important for Chinese people. However, as society progresses, people's conception on marriage and the reality are changing amid conflicts between tradition and modernity.

According to statistics from related authorities in Guangdong, in 2004, 48,903 couples (not including those with foreigners, overseas Chinese and people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) registered divorce in marriage registration authority, 16,877 couples or 52.6 percent more than one year earlier.

Both the number and increase rate of people who part through uncontested divorce hit a record high; last year, the Court of Guangdong Province finalized 23,294 divorces, 4,254 down from the previous year. Taking both into consideration, the divorce rate in Guangdong increased 21.2 percent overall, far higher than previous years.

According to another incomplete statistics, about 60 percent of divorces were because of failure to communication and detachment, 20 percent due to extramarital affair, and the rest 20 percent due to unharmonious sex life and sharp difference in the couple's social status.

Moreover, 70 percent of all the divorces were raised by wives; the divorce rate among women aged 35 to 39 approaches one percent, leading all other age groups, 2,6 times up from over ten years ago.

Unregistered divorce

According to a just-divorced long-married man, he and his wife previously thought the divorce formalities too complicated and they didn't want to go to court. Now it's easy as long as both sides reach an agreement. In addition, some couple, who cannot live together any longer, agree to part after their children graduate from college.

An official in charge of marriage in Guangdong said, the divorce rate seems huge, however, the case is not so serious because unregistered divorce exists.

Unregistered divorce means the couple separate inside the family due to collapsed feelings, however they have not gone through any formalities due to various reasons. This phenomenon is especially common in cities, and mainly among the middle-aged.

"35-year-old divorce group"

36-year-old Mr. Yan registered divorce with his wife after his seven-year marriage. He said the enthusiasm in the past has gone while complaint on life and mutual distrust are increasing. Trivial life, cold feeling and nonstop quarrels finally put an end to his marriage.

Survey shows, currently there has been a sharp increase in divorces among people around 35 years, who even form a "35-year-old divorce group". Among many reasons, detachment causes about 60 percent marriages beyond maintenance.

Song Yaohong, an expert with Jinan University said, as the society progresses and men and women are more equal, people have had higher demand for marriage. After seven to eight years' marriage, enthusiasm has ebbed away, plus, worry and complaint make marriage no longer a converging point of both sides. Therefore happy marriage and peaceful separation become the mainstream of modern marriages.

Couples around 35 years old are the group confronted with the most pressure both in life and in career. Under such a circumstance, the couples have more expectations for their spouse. When the expectations are failed in reality, more quarrels occur, hence red light in marriage.

Extramarital affair

Ms. Wang, whose son has been over 20, found his anesthetist husband had an affair with a young doctor at work. Divorce became her only choice.

The occurrence of extramarital affair depends on moral control. When pressure and thirst for the other sex surpass moral limit, extramarital affair becomes inevitable.

The phenomenon is caused by people's higher expectations for marriage, getting fed up with their wives; and as their status rises, many men will get into an affair. Plus, nowadays temptations are increasing in a broader information-filled world.

Unconventional marriage value

According to Ms. Chen, marriage is only a piece of paper, which has no substantial influence on love. When finding the relationship unsuitable, she will simply break it up. She also thinks one-night stand is also acceptable if two people are suitable.

Cyber love, one-night stand, "instant marriage" have been common in big cities, mainly among young white-collar women. One reason is that women, with rising social status and economic independence, are seeking their self-value and are no longer depending on men through marriage.

Many neo-generation women think love and marriage are more an individual behavior and one's own feeling is the most important. Fast marriage and fast divorce, in this way both sides can be free of trouble.

Experts estimate that as society progresses and the white-collar group expands, one-night stand and flash marriage tend to increase.

By People's Daily Online