Bigamy, Domestic Violence Should Be Punished: Survey

The majority of the Chinese public agree with the principle of monogamy and gender equality and are highly concerned with problems of extra-marital affairs and domestic violence, according to a recent survey.

"Around 95 percent of respondents said that extra-marital affairs and family violence should be punishable by law," said Ding Lu, an official with the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF).

The four-month survey conducted by ACWF paves the way for the revision of the country's 1980 Marriage law, which doesn't mention domestic family violence, nor cover extra-marital affairs.

The survey covered 10 provinces and cities including Beijing, Guangdong and Sichuan, and there were 103 questions ranging from marriage, divorce, to property and domestic violence.

Of the 4,000 people surveyed, aged 18 and above, 48.1 percent were men and 51.9 percent women.

More than 80 to 90 percent of the respondents said they know the principles of monogamy and gender equality in marriage.

Some 8.2 percent Chinese have had illicit sexual affairs outside of their marriage, 2.4 percent have a concubine. Sixteen percent said that prostitution is a problem in China, and the figure is higher in urban areas, up to 21.9 percent.

"Although the number of illicit sexual affairs in China is much lower than in the West, which stands at 60 percent for men and 25 percent for women, but it is rising fast in China," said Ding "Such affairs destroy the fabric of marriages and threatens the statutory principle of monogamy," she said. "It is a legal issue," she stressed.

According to the poll, 99.4 percent said that couples are obligated to be faithful to each other. Only 0.6 percent disagreed on this point. 91.8 percent said extra-marital affairs damage marriage relations; 94.2 percent said bigamy and taking a mistress should be punished by law, while 51.6 percent said bigamy is a criminal act and should be punished by law.

Couples are obligated to be faithful to the other," said Ding, "otherwise, the law is encouraging adultery and promiscuity,"she said.

Domestic violence occurs in some 30 percent of Chinese families.

Statistics from the ACWF showed that domestic violence rose from 1998's 15 percent to 18 percent in the second half of 1999.

The rise in domestic violence is due to women's increasing economic dependence on men as the economy moves from a state-planned one to a market economy.

The increase of extra-marital affairs leads to more quarrels in which women are invariably disadvantaged, she said.

She also blamed lack of public attention concerning the rights and interests of women. "The situation is gradually changing," she said.

Only 5.1 percent surveyed said that "beating one's wife is no one's business except their own," while 94.9 percent disagreed.

96.1 percent said that an addition should be made to the Marriage Law to outlaw domestic violence. Some 46.2 percent advocated criminal penalties and sentences, while 26.8 percent advocated education.

People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/