2003 Set 11 – Marriage & Relationship 2003 Set 11 – Marriage & Relationship “Marriage ad relationships”. “Marriage ad relationships”.

You and your classmates have been asked to You and your classmates have been asked to prepare a class presentation on the topic of prepare a class presentation on the topic of ““Marriage and relationship.” You should discussMarriage and relationship.” You should discusssome of the reasons why people choose not tosome of the reasons why people choose not tomarry these days and what impact this will have marry these days and what impact this will have on society in the future. on society in the future.

You might also like to give your opinions on what You might also like to give your opinions on what makes a good and lasting marriage or makes a good and lasting marriage or

relationship.relationship.

Reasons why people do not marryReasons why people do not marry

• Busy working-> no time to find a partnerBusy working-> no time to find a partner

• Not meeting the right personNot meeting the right person

• More people enjoy single lifeMore people enjoy single life

• High divorce rate-> no confidence and sense of High divorce rate-> no confidence and sense of securitysecurity

• Affected by divorced parentsAffected by divorced parents

• Highly-educated women are earning more money Highly-educated women are earning more money in their careers -> difficult to find a partnerin their careers -> difficult to find a partner

• Do not want to take responsibilityDo not want to take responsibility

• Prefer living togetherPrefer living together

• Women have become more demanding and Women have become more demanding and choosychoosy

• Men going to China to find a wifeMen going to China to find a wife

Impact on society in the futureImpact on society in the future

• Ageing problems -> large population of single elderly Ageing problems -> large population of single elderly womenwomen

• Decrease of workforceDecrease of workforce

• Burden on social welfare (e.g. health)Burden on social welfare (e.g. health)

• Excess supply of schools -> unemployment of Excess supply of schools -> unemployment of teachersteachers

• Generation gap with daughter/sonGeneration gap with daughter/son

• Government subsidy (esp. medical) increasesGovernment subsidy (esp. medical) increases

• Less relatives because of zero percent birth rateLess relatives because of zero percent birth rate

What makes a good and lasting marriage What makes a good and lasting marriage and relationshipand relationship

• Concern about the other’s feelingsConcern about the other’s feelings

• Share happiness and sadnessShare happiness and sadness

• Be honest Be honest

• Mutual trust and understanding Mutual trust and understanding

• Support, love and careSupport, love and care

• Giving privacy to each otherGiving privacy to each other

• Trying to solve problems immediately Trying to solve problems immediately

• Sharing houseworkSharing housework

• Independent financeIndependent finance

• Mutual respect: everyone has Mutual respect: everyone has strengths and weaknesses strengths and weaknesses

In your learner diary, write in about In your learner diary, write in about 150 words on the following topic:150 words on the following topic:

Because people have less trust in Because people have less trust in marriage nowadays, they think it marriage nowadays, they think it is old-fashioned and doesn’t have is old-fashioned and doesn’t have a place in society. Do you agree a place in society. Do you agree with this opinion? Why / Why not?with this opinion? Why / Why not?

Ideas concluded from 6S (26-1-07) why people do Ideas concluded from 6S (26-1-07) why people do not choose to marry these daysnot choose to marry these days

► They don’t have enough trust in the other half.They don’t have enough trust in the other half.► They want more freedom, and they don’t want to give They want more freedom, and they don’t want to give

up their privacy/personal freedom.up their privacy/personal freedom.► They don’t want a steady relationship.They don’t want a steady relationship.► Time is a problem especially for working women.Time is a problem especially for working women.► Financial reasons: e.g. planning and organizing the Financial reasons: e.g. planning and organizing the

wedding ceremony.wedding ceremony.► More career-orientated nowadays; career is a priority.More career-orientated nowadays; career is a priority.► More females than males in Hong Kong, so they More females than males in Hong Kong, so they

won’t be able to find a suitable partner.won’t be able to find a suitable partner.