Divorce

Abstract

Divorce in China involves not only a disengaging couple but also their children, parents, and other relatives, who all play a significant role in the process. This chapter shows that a decision to divorce, the timing of its occurrence, and the terms on which it is based, are not simply matters for the couple involved, but also affect their broader families. The responsibilities for a child’s education, eldercare for aging parents, and ongoing concern about the feelings and face of kin qualify the terms of the separation in contemporary China. The chapter also examines the surprisingly underresearched issue of the division of family property at the end of a marriage. Even though the rising rate of divorce in China has introduced a new fluidity in family structures, family ties, even after divorce, persist because persons cannot easily relinquish long-term familial commitments and responsibilities.