Tongyangxi

"[5] Shim-pua marriage occurred over a range of socioeconomic classes, but was particularly common among poor and rural families.

[6] In poorer and more rural communities, shim-pua minor marriage was inexpensive and helped to ensure that no matter how poor a family was, their sons would have wives when they reached marrying age, and thus a greater likelihood of producing descendants.

In contrast, a shim-pua daughter would remain in the household, caring for the parents through their old age, and would bear their descendants.

Because the couple were legally considered step-siblings, the Taiwanese common law forbade their marriage.

[11] Shim-pua marriage fell out of practice by the 1970s due to increased wealth resulting from Taiwan's economic success, making such arrangements unnecessary.

Greater exposure outside the home and education itself often created opportunities for shim-pua daughters to resist or escape the marriage arrangement.

[12] Since these marriages required the husband entering the wife's household (contrary to traditional Chinese norms), they were relegated to a lower social status.