For many years now, research has been conducted to discover more about the sexual habits and practices of couples living together without being married, also known as premarital cohabitation. This phenomenon has become very common especially among young adults who are between the ages of twenty and thirty-five. In China, there is no legal requirement that lovers must be married before they can live together, but there are strong social norms against it because of the influence of Confucian values.
Recent studies have found that most Chinese people are becoming less concerned about this tradition and are beginning to accept it.
This paper looks into how religious and cultural attitudes towards premarital cohabitation influence the sexual agency, negotiation, and relational satisfaction of young adults. The study uses qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with fourteen young adults aged between twenty-three and thirty-two living in Shanghai City. It analyzes how these attitudes have affected their experiences with sex, intimacy, and relationships.
Religious and Cultural Attitudes Towards Premarital Cohabitation
In traditional Chinese culture, premarital cohabitation was considered a sin and was frowned upon by both parents and society. Most families believed that if two individuals lived together outside marriage, they would not want to get married later on.
Some felt that premarital cohabitation was immoral or unethical, especially when one of the partners had already been married before.
There are some religions such as Christianity and Islam where premarital cohabitation is allowed for those who believe in it.
The researcher used semi-structured interviews to collect data from respondents. Each interview took approximately forty minutes and included questions regarding their views on sexual agency, negotiation, and relational satisfaction. This approach provided an opportunity for participants to talk about their own experiences and opinions without being influenced by other people's responses. The sample included men and women who were either single, divorced, or previously married but now living with their partner without being wedded formally.
Sexual Agency
Sexual agency refers to an individual's ability to take control over their sexual choices and actions. The results showed that most respondents in this study reported having more autonomy and freedom when living together outside marriage than when they were engaged or married. They could do what they wanted with their bodies without feeling like anyone else had any right to tell them what to do. Some reported experimenting with different types of sex acts while others said they enjoyed the intimacy involved in sharing bed space with someone they love.
Most respondents agreed that living together enabled them to explore their sexual identity freely, which made them feel empowered emotionally and physically.
Negotiation
Negotiation involves discussing issues related to relationships such as finances, chores, household responsibilities, childcare duties, etc., between partners. It allows couples to work together towards finding solutions that benefit both parties rather than one dominating another person in a relationship. In this study, some respondents said that living together made them negotiate better because there was no pressure to get married quickly or make commitments that might not be fulfilled later on. Others mentioned how premarital cohabitation allowed them to test-drive each other before getting married so that if things didn't work out well, they could leave easily without breaking up families or hurting children.
Relational Satisfaction
Respondents who lived together before tying the knot generally expressed higher levels of satisfaction than those who did not live together at all before getting married.
This does not mean that all people who live together experience high levels of satisfaction; some reported feeling dissatisfied due to lack of commitment from their partner, financial pressures, or differences in lifestyles. This shows that living together is not always a guarantee for happiness but can help build strong foundations for future marriages if done rightly.
The findings indicate that religious and cultural attitudes towards premarital cohabitation affect young adults' sexual agency, negotiation, and relational satisfaction differently depending on their circumstances. Some people felt more empowered sexually while others had difficulty negotiating with their partners about household responsibilities or finances.
It seems like living together outside marriage gives couples an opportunity to try out different things while still being committed emotionally and physically to each other which may improve communication skills and lead to greater satisfaction within relationships down the line.
How do Chinese religious and cultural attitudes toward premarital cohabitation influence sexual agency, negotiation, and relational satisfaction among young adults?
Chinese religious and cultural attitudes towards premarital cohabitation have a significant impact on the level of sexual agency, negotiation, and relational satisfaction among young adults. These attitudes are rooted in traditional values that emphasize the importance of maintaining family honor and preserving social stability. As a result, young people are often expected to abide by strict rules regarding sexual behavior before marriage, including avoidance of premarital sex and cohabitation.