Masculine imaginaries and imagined masculinities in China: the male marriage squeeze as discursive practice

What happens to societies with a shortage of women? As the ‘male marriage squeeze’ intensifies in China, this is a question that has gained traction.

In this talk, Professor Lisa Eklund argues that the male marriage squeeze is not only a demographic problem, but also a discursive practice. As a discursive practice, she identifies two dominant constructs that mark how causes and consequences of the male marriage squeeze are understood in popular as well as political discourse. 

Masculine imaginaries attribute causes of involuntary bachelorhood primarily to ‘instrumental women’ or women as ‘gold-diggers’, who exercise dyadic power to advance wealth and status. Imagined masculinities underpin narratives about consequences of involuntary bachelorhood, constructing single men as frustrated, dangerous and prone to violence and crime, including sexual assault of women. 

Drawing on three recent research projects investigating the implications of male singlehood on intimate relations, health and wellbeing, and mate selection, she shows how the empirical realities of single men are much more complex. Yet, even with limited empirical grounding, both constructs have social and political implications. Masculine imaginaries fuels misogynistic sentiments, distrust towards women and removes attention from how structural inequalities based on class, rural/urban divides and gender generate stratified marriage markets and how gendered scripts of intimate relations are changing. 

By labelling single men as frustrated and dangerous, imagined masculinities not only stigmatises single men, but also reinforces hegemonic masculinity. Therefore, as a discursive practice, the male marriage squeeze has become part of creating the problem it intended to elucidate.

Registration

This event is open to the public and free to attend; however, registration is required. This event is taking place on campus and will not be recorded or live-streamed.

Organiser

This event has been organised by the SOAS China Institute.

Image credit: King Kong on Unsplash