Perhaps we have, more or less, experienced being asked by elders whether we have found a partner, and those who have are asked when they will marry. "You're not complete if you don't marry," they say, "Your life will be much better if you do," they say. We want to question all this: Why? In an era where divorce rates are sky-high, can these really complete your life?
I see that people nowadays are increasingly averse to marriage, and I believe that what they reject is not marriage itself, but the invisible societal indoctrination that "everyone must marry" and the stereotypical impressions of what marriage is. I am not against marriage personally. In an era where marriage is gradually losing its economic effect, it is an incredibly brave commitment. "I love you, even though I know you might not be as I imagined. And even so, I still want to spend the following days with you."
Marriage is against human nature, I believe, and that's precisely what makes it great. And because of this, not everyone needs it. Using an inappropriate analogy, marriage is like an expensive Hermès bag; it's beautiful but not essential. If there was a society that demanded everyone must own a Hermès bag or else be scorned, I think that society would be terrifying, and Hermès bags would lose their value. So, when marriage becomes a universal requirement, has it been demeaned?
--Yihan(Performer)
However, with the flourishing of feminism in China, there's a growing call for challenging patriarchal structures, advocating for women's rights and autonomy, leading to profound changes in perceptions of marriage. The feminist movement is not just a call for gender equality but a redefinition of personal choice, including marriage choices. This reevaluation resonates with the growing sentiment of the younger generation, who increasingly approach marriage with skepticism rather than anticipation. This skepticism is not necessarily an aversion to marriage itself but a rejection of the "invisible societal indoctrination" of marriage as a universal goal, along with the stereotypes and often unrealistic expectations that come with it.
As this performance art piece unfolds, it becomes a clarion call for reflection and dialogue. In a society increasingly valuing personal choice and questioning traditional norms, it invites us to ponder the future of marriage and acts as a mirror reflecting the dynamic changes and burgeoning feminist movement within China.