Parks
as open spaces have been designed for rest and relaxation. Activities designed for fitness have
oftentimes found their niche at major public parks and playgrounds.
But
the People’s Park of Shanghai, China is quite different. On weekends, it serves as a marriage
market. Literally speaking, a market
where you can window shop your spouse to be.
The
perfect wife or husband material may have been waiting for you at the People’s
Park. The marriage market is like a
dating site on a more personalized way.
Parents list advertisements on behalf of their children with the aim of
finding the lifetime partner for them.
The
marriage market at Shanghai is actually a rendezvous for parents whose children
remains unmarried. The parents walk
around chatting with other parents to see if their standards are met. It appears like a matchmaking activity on a
more serious note as this is not only about blind dating, but spending your
lifetime with someone your parents have decided. When pierced, it is actually a fixed or
arranged marriage.
Most
parents don’t have permission from their children to attend to this event. Attached to long strings, all of their
children’s information is written on a piece of paper which is then hung on the
corner walls and some posted on umbrellas that surround.
There
are pictures scattered as well. It
really appears like a market and the single adults’ profile are the menu. I
honestly pity the parents for this traditional set-up but they too have reasons
we need to understand. This is the
beauty of contrast. I tend to dig deeper
into the reasons why this is happening.
And I surmise this has something to do with culture that we need to
respect.
I
witnessed someone holding a megaphone and speaking as if protesting. He was positioned at the center of the
park. His facial expression and the
presence of television crew documenting the act makes me conclude he is raising
an important national issue. He speaks
in Mandarin so I have no way to confirm.
But whatever it is, it must be something connected to the holding of a
marriage market.
How
about you, would you be willing to give out your personal information to find
your lifetime partner?
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