When we open the ledger of the marriage plight of older young men in rural areas, a group of cold data is shocking. According to statistics, there is a serious imbalance in the ratio of unmarried men and women in rural areas on the mainland, as high as 2:1, while the ratio of older unmarried men to women is even more alarming 13:2. This means that in the vast rural land, more than 11 out of every 13 older young men face the dilemma of marrying a wife. This is not only a pile of numbers, but also a true portrayal of countless families.
Historically, long-term gender imbalances hovered over the countryside like a ghost. Influenced by traditional beliefs and birth policies, some families are more inclined to have boys, resulting in a relatively low female birth rate. Coupled with the overall decline in the birth rate, the female marriageable population is becoming more and more scarce, and it has become a gap that is difficult for older young men in rural areas to cross.
The imbalance in the development of urban and rural economies is like an invisible wall, keeping older rural men and young men out of the marriage market. The marriage market in economically developed areas and cities is booming, while the countryside is in abundance. This gradient matching of the marriage market puts rural men at a disadvantage when choosing a mate, and becomes the "leftover" group.
In rural areas, bride price is often the focus of marriage negotiations. With the rise in prices and the prevalence of comparison, the amount of bride price has risen, and even become an unbearable burden for some families. In some areas, the bride price is in the hundreds of thousands, equivalent to a family's savings for decades. This unreasonable economic burden has discouraged many older young men in rural areas, and they can only look at their "wives" and sigh.
At the individual level: a double whammy for physical and mental health
Older young men in rural areas, who have long been in the dilemma of choosing a mate, not only bear inner torment and anxiety, but also face the pressure of public opinion from the outside world. As a result, many of them become withdrawn, have low self-esteem, and even develop feelings of despair, which seriously affects their physical and mental health.
Social level: the invisible bomb of rural governance
The gathering of "singles" not only impacts the normal order of the countryside, but also may cause a series of social problems. Marriage fraud and marriage evasion are frequent, causing serious harm to victims and their families. At the same time, the stigma of the "singles" group also exacerbates their sense of social exclusion and becomes a destabilizing factor in rural governance.
Economic: The heavy burden on the social security system
As time goes on, the number of older unmarried men in rural areas increases, and their dependence on social security will become more apparent. The demand for social services such as pensions and medical security will rise sharply, putting unprecedented pressure on the social security system.
In order to fundamentally solve the dilemma of marriage between older men and young men in rural areas, it is necessary to vigorously develop the rural economy and narrow the gap between urban and rural development. Through policy support, industry guidance, skills training and other measures, improve the employment and entrepreneurship ability of rural youth, and increase their economic income and social status.
Policy guidance: Build systemic solutions
The government should introduce a series of targeted policy measures to optimize population policies and address the imbalance in the sex ratio. At the same time, build a package of policy systems around solving the problems of marriage and love, and improve the level of marriage public services and market services. For example, promote the reform of marriage customs, lower the standard of bride price, and strengthen the supervision of the marriage and love market.
Grassroots governance: Stimulate the vitality of autonomous organizations
Grassroots autonomous organizations should give play to their self-service and guidance functions, strengthen the building of family style and family education in rural families, and create a positive social atmosphere. At the same time, we should popularize the successful experience of the experimental areas for the reform of marriage customs, and guide rural residents to establish a correct concept of marriage and love and abandon bad habits and customs.
Social support: Hold up a protective umbrella for the needy
All sectors of society should strengthen care and support for older unmarried men in rural areas. Encourage local governments to establish a "management information system" for unmarried older men in rural areas, and provide them with personalized support measures. At the same time, we should strengthen the construction of rural pension services and security systems to ensure that they have access to care for the elderly and medical treatment for their illnesses.
The marriage dilemma of older young men in rural areas is a complex and profound social problem, which needs to be faced and solved with a more open and inclusive attitude. It is about personal well-being, social stability and national development. Let's work hand in hand,