Young people who aren't dating

Behind the astonishing sentiments expressed by young Japanese people today lies the breakdown of the trinity of love, sex, and marriage! Is love no longer a must-have for youth? Has the era of love supremacy finally come to an end?
“I really want to get married, but dating is such a hassle!”
“I don't need a husband, I just want children.”
“Even with a partner, it's Dutch treat.” “I'm happier staying with my parents.” “Divorce is a bad debt of love…”
Behind the astonishing sentiments expressed by young Japanese people today lies the breakdown of the trinity of love, sex, and marriage! Is love no longer a must-have for youth? Has the era of love supremacy finally come to an end?
Survey data shows that among Japanese people in their 20s, 70% of women and 80% of men do not have a partner. Many single young people even emphatically state, "I don't need a partner!" What is happening to young people today? Why are young men and women hesitant to fall in love? Trend commentator Megumi Ushikubo delves into the root causes of the surge in the unmarried rate through a sample survey and interviews with 600 young people. She also examines the evolution of marriage concepts from the Heian period to the present, the clash between modern gender equality concepts and old values, and contrasts the prosperity and depression of the bubble economy, revealing a changing landscape of contemporary youth's views on love. The book directly addresses the psychological ripple effects among young people under economic and social structural changes. Under the labels of "trouble" and "burden," love has faded, yet it is hard to conceal young people's longing for marriage. This contradiction exacerbates the societal trends of increasing unmarried rates and declining birth rates. However, at the same time, new forms of "cooperative marriage" are emerging, such as "weekend marriage," "outside-the-circle marriage," "modern visiting marriage," "local marriage," "Satoyama marriage," and many other diverse forms. These changes also harbor new opportunities and possibilities, showcasing a more open, inclusive, and pragmatic attitude towards relationships and marriage. While guiding us to confront and reflect on the relationship and marriage issues of contemporary young people, this book also paints a picture of a future relationship landscape full of possibilities.

2024-06-01

上海译文出版社

224

9787532794881