Love, Affection, Female Power

[Celeste Modster]

EMERGENT CONJUGAL LOVE, MUTUAL AFFECTION, AND FEMALE MARITAL POWER

WILLIAM JANKOWIAK AND XUAN LI

I have a friend who’s stories reflect that of a Chinese marriage built on patriarchal values and ideologies of old. Now divorced, she has no attraction to or belief in a marriage system that is other than belittling and abusive. She would have flourished as a loving wife in this new marriage model. I am a romantic from this our Western World and I am so happy to learn of the shift in love language for the Chinese culture. This article echos my sentiments on romantic relationships and I applaud the new cultural adaptation which the  authors call “the reciprocal nature of intimacy.” This artical speaks to the subject of gender moving toward equality or greater balance in marriage relationships. Women and men alike are benefitting from and enjoying love bonds. The power dynamics have become inclusive and especially empowering to women in marriage.