New Marriage Law

It was a radical change from existing patriarchal Chinese marriage customs, and needed constant support from propaganda campaigns.

[4] Traditionally, Chinese marriage had often been arranged or forced, concubinage was commonplace, and women could not seek a divorce.

It immediately became an essential part of land reform, as women in rural communities stopped being sold to landlords.

[10] There is historical debate over the effectiveness of the New Marriage Law in terms of the state's commitment to the policy, and therefore its success.

Article 28 of the 1980 Marriage Law also formalizes duties from younger generations to older, and from older generations to younger:[13] Grandparents or maternal grandparents who can afford it shall have the duty to bring up their grandchildren who are minors and whose parents are dead or have no capacity of bringing them up.

[2] The Second Marriage Law was also amended in 2001 to outlaw married persons' cohabitation with a third party, aimed at curbing a resurgence of concubinage in big cities.