3.4　Summary

3.4　Summary

From the literature on marriage and the family,we can see that they are interrelated and link closely to society.Marriage is seen socially and institutionally as a sexual relationship between two adults,while the family is seen as a unit of society which fulfills many responsibilities for itself and for society.Their different cultures and social systems inevitably mean that there are some differences between the British and Chinese definitions.For example,with respect to the family,the British definitions focus mainly on family content,form,role and rights,while the Chinese definitions centre more on the cross-generational relationships between family members and between the family and society.

Through examining definitions of marriage and the family,we can see that gender inequality exists between women and men.Gender is not created naturally but socially,culturally and through legislation.As explained in Section 3.2,gender inequality is reflected in all aspects of life and men tend to be viewed as superior to women.Gender inequality leads to women and men having different positions in the home and is a symbol of power and a reflection of patriarchy.Women or wives living under such systems may experience physical or psychological abuse,while men or husbands may use such power or patriarchy to control women or wives.How do the perpetrators (husbands) use their power to control their victims (wives) in the home? How is gender inequality reflected specifically in domestic violence occurring between wives and husbands? This will be discussed in the following chapter.

【注释】

[1]See Hester and Westmarland,2005．

[2]Source:http://www.womensaid.org.uk/what_is-dv.htm [Accessed:6 September 2005]．

[3]China Marriage Law stipulates that 'if the man and the woman are lineal relatives by blood,or collateral relatives by blood up to the third degree of kinship,they cannot marry each　other' (2001:5).

[4]Source:http://www.hie.co.uk/article-0122.html [Accessed:29 September 2007]．

[5]Source:http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/1996027.htm [Accessed:10 July 2006].