Huang Yunxiang

One more way of choosing a partner

A recent program in four major Chinese cities to seek life partners for 18 rich bachelors has drawn the attention of the public. Tens of thousands of women applied to take part in the contest out of which 18 would be able to date the young millionaires.

The public has always considered such programs to be nothing but beauty contests organized by the rich and powerful. But the recent program should be seen as an all-round test of women rather than just another beauty contest. The program emphasized the comprehensive quality of women instead of just their looks and figures. Knowledge and achievements were important criteria in the selection of the women, indicating the rationality and maturity employed by the men in judging the women.

Some people have criticized the program saying that such naked exhibition of wealth is just recreation for the rich. But look at what the rich bachelors were looking for in the women who could be their life partners: beauty, good temperament, psychological balance, sound character, good educational qualification, high moral values, love and respect for the institution of marriage. I suppose the rich bachelors were indeed serious about seeking life partners.

The young men, too, had to measure up certain requirements. The program organizers scrutinized them minutely by putting under the scanner their personal backgrounds and qualifications. They made them submit original copies of their certificates and proof of their property, stocks and companies.

Traditionally, rich Chinese are reluctant to disclose their property. So, if the rich bachelors were not sincere in their quest they wouldn't have disclosed their wealth. In a way, the program that compelled the rich to reveal their true wealth should be seen as a turning point in social behavior.

The 18 millionaire bachelors not only made public their personal information, including their financial status, but also communicated face-to-face with the women participants. There is thus no reason for us to question their sincerity. Today, public sentiment is against the rich. But the actions of the millionaire bachelors should help remove some of the prejudices against the rich.

Beauty contests are nothing new to modern society. That's why some people's first reaction to such "seek-a-life-partner" programs is that they are "another kind of beauty contest". But every man and woman has the right to seek his/her ideal life partner. So, we should not blame the rich for choosing their life partners in a way they think is the best.

If such programs can help the rich find true happiness, we should not blame them. We should stop seeing the rich through colored glasses and criticizing every act of theirs.

The rich and the poor alike try to choose the best life partners and we should not criticize them for the ways they do so.

The author is a freelancer based in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. This article was first published on Cnhubei.Net.

(China Daily 07/05/2010 page9)