Marriage, Maoism and Modernity
Directed by Gary Seaman, Steven Rousso-Schindler, Zhifang Song
Synopsis
This film outlines the types of marriage exchange practiced in a Chinese village over the last fifty years. Dowry, brideprice and exchange marriages have dominated the marriage market in turn as villagers have responded to changes in economic, political and social conditions. At present, the practice of “pseudodowry” (indirect exchange) marks the ability of young women to demand large payments of cash from the groom’s family, which are used to create prestigious public displays of wedding gifts for the bride. A historical overview links the personal life of Mao Zedong to issues of parental authority in arranging marriages.
