Attitudes toward transnational intermarriage in China: Testing three theories of transnationalization

Abstract

BACKGROUNDIn an increasingly interconnected world, understanding the formation of transnational orientations is of great importance. Attitudes toward transnational intermarriage tell of people's view of the transnational world and their perception of the social distance between countries and regions. OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this research is to identify the holistic formations of Chinese people's transnational orientations in relation to distinct countries and regions, and examine the individual-and province-level correlates of the distinctive profiles of transnational orientations in order to test theories of transnational convergence, transnational distinction, and individualized transnationalization. METHODSThis research draws on individual-level data from the China General Social Survey (N = 3,000) and province-level data from the China Statistics Yearbook. Latent class analysis and multilevel multinomial random-intercept models are used to analyze the data. RESULTSA fourfold typology of attitudes toward transnational intermarriage is identified, namely cosmopolitan, pro-West, pro-East Asia, and anti-transnational. The results support the theory of transnational distinction rather than transnational convergence, as macro-level difference -instead of convergence in the level of transnational activity and, particularly, socioeconomic development between countries -fosters support for intermarriage. The thesis of individualized transnationalization is also supported, as individuals' region-specific cultural consumption positively predicts their exclusive support for intermarriage with people from these regions.

The transnationalisation of intimacy: family relations and changes in an age of global mobility and digital media

“…Meanwhile, a new global wave of privately sponsored international education mobility is only made possible through the sustained exchange of economic and other resources between transnationally located family members (Brooks & Waters, 2011;Ma, 2020). Here, it is important to note that global labour and education mobilities, as well as transnational familial intimacy resulting from such mobilities, are as much driven by the uneven distribution of resources across the world as by the post-colonial cultural imaginaries of the world underpinning the construction of 'desirable' destinations (Constable, 2003;Hu, 2017). Therefore, transnational family relations resulting from phenomena such as the 'global care chain' and transnational education mobility are closely embedded in the materiality and symbolic hierarchies fashioned by global capitalism.…”

Mixed families in China: international migration, partner, and children

“…In the last 30 years, the socio-economic development of China has caused employment-related migration, and the change in structure and size of the marriage market, which has increased chances of intermarriages (Lui, 2016;Hu, 2017). Both getting married and having children are still important in China, even with the family size reduction.…”