Payment or Contract?A Typological Study on the Practice of Bride Price Payment in Rural Areas
This paper presents a typological study on the practice of bride price payment in rural areas of China,using a dual analytical framework of"payment-contract".The study finds that the bride price serves as both a"property"and a"gift".The former represents the payment attribute,which is the explicit mechanism of the"pricing'of the bride price in the marriage market,indicating the fierce competition in marriage.The stronger the payment attribute is,the greater the influence of the bride price on the rules of marriage is.The latter represents the contract attribute of the bride price,which embodies the social norms and marriage agreement in the practice of marriage and reflects the order of marriage contracting.The positive effect of the bride price on the conclusion of marriage becomes more obvious with a stronger contract attribute.The payment attribute and contract attribute of the bride price are not exclusive,but can generate different combinations.Based on the multi-site field study and the dual analytical framework of"payment-contract',this paper outlines four types of bride price payment:"weak payment-weak contract"type,"strong payment-weak contract"type,"strong payment-strong contract"type,and"weak payment-strong contract'type.These different types of bride price payment can shape different marriage patterns.Therefore,the governance of high-priced bride price should be promoted with differentiations according to the specific situation.
Bride Price PaymentMarriage ContractRelationship of Rights and ObligationsMarital Stability
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
维普
