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Thanks To SARS, Love Has Never Been More Popular In China
Beijing, May 29: Love is in the air on the streets of Beijing. As China struggles to contain the SARS outbreak, the virus has boosted relationships and brought down divorce rates.
Beijing, May 29: Love is in the air on the streets of Beijing. As China struggles to contain the SARS outbreak, the virus has boosted relationships and brought down divorce rates.
It's summertime in Beijing -- and like everywhere in the world, people are flocking to the parks to spend some romantic hours with their sweethearts. But this year it's not just the warm weather which has young and old on a natural high. SARS -- the killer virus that is keeping Beijing breathless and impacting its economy -- has been bringing people together in a boost to love across the city. When the capital, struggling to contain the outbreak, shut down restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, it forced people to stay at home -- and enjoy the company of their loved ones. Spending time at home with his family is pretty much all Zhang has done since the virus hit China. "Ever since the outbreak of the SARS epidemic, opportunities for going out have become less and less, so in that way the time spent with the family has increased compared to before. We now have much more time to do some family stuff, to relax together, to play, to exercise," he said.
For makers of condoms, the SARS crisis has boosted sales - making it a summer of togetherness in Beijing. For young people especially, SARS has turned out to be an adventure - upsetting the routines of everyday life.
With universities closed or quarantined and no exams to study for, China's hard-working students have had unexpected time on their hands for the first time in years -- resulting in a flood of new campus couples.
But it's not just the extra time that has made people extra-amorous. Sociologists say in the face of death human beings feel a special need for intimacy.
"When people see death -- and see it from very close --, they suddenly become aware of how fragile and transient life is. Sex, then, becomes a way of feeling and experiencing life," said Li Yinhe (pron: lee yin hur), Professor of Sociology at China's Academy of Social Sciences.
She said in insecure times people tend to have more sex at home with their spouse or long-term partner, in a bid to strengthen their relationship.
But for some young couples coming to terms with the restraints imposed by the epidemic has not been easy.
"My girlfriend and I didn't see each other for ages, and I missed her a lot. But the SARS epidemic has been so serious, especially in Beijing, that our parents were not in favour of us going outside," said 20-year-old student Liu Xiaoming.
Beijing newspapers say the divorce rate has dropped off since the outbreak in late March, with Xicheng district alone seeing a 50 per cent decrease in divorce applications.
While people might reevaluate their relationship in a crisis, the decline could also be due to a less rampant promiscuity as lovers cannot meet secretly in karaoke bars any more. And with workplaces closed and quarantine measures imposed, sneaking out of the house is not an option.
Bureau Report
It's summertime in Beijing -- and like everywhere in the world, people are flocking to the parks to spend some romantic hours with their sweethearts. But this year it's not just the warm weather which has young and old on a natural high. SARS -- the killer virus that is keeping Beijing breathless and impacting its economy -- has been bringing people together in a boost to love across the city. When the capital, struggling to contain the outbreak, shut down restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, it forced people to stay at home -- and enjoy the company of their loved ones. Spending time at home with his family is pretty much all Zhang has done since the virus hit China. "Ever since the outbreak of the SARS epidemic, opportunities for going out have become less and less, so in that way the time spent with the family has increased compared to before. We now have much more time to do some family stuff, to relax together, to play, to exercise," he said.
For makers of condoms, the SARS crisis has boosted sales - making it a summer of togetherness in Beijing. For young people especially, SARS has turned out to be an adventure - upsetting the routines of everyday life.
With universities closed or quarantined and no exams to study for, China's hard-working students have had unexpected time on their hands for the first time in years -- resulting in a flood of new campus couples.
But it's not just the extra time that has made people extra-amorous. Sociologists say in the face of death human beings feel a special need for intimacy.
"When people see death -- and see it from very close --, they suddenly become aware of how fragile and transient life is. Sex, then, becomes a way of feeling and experiencing life," said Li Yinhe (pron: lee yin hur), Professor of Sociology at China's Academy of Social Sciences.
She said in insecure times people tend to have more sex at home with their spouse or long-term partner, in a bid to strengthen their relationship.
But for some young couples coming to terms with the restraints imposed by the epidemic has not been easy.
"My girlfriend and I didn't see each other for ages, and I missed her a lot. But the SARS epidemic has been so serious, especially in Beijing, that our parents were not in favour of us going outside," said 20-year-old student Liu Xiaoming.
Beijing newspapers say the divorce rate has dropped off since the outbreak in late March, with Xicheng district alone seeing a 50 per cent decrease in divorce applications.
While people might reevaluate their relationship in a crisis, the decline could also be due to a less rampant promiscuity as lovers cannot meet secretly in karaoke bars any more. And with workplaces closed and quarantine measures imposed, sneaking out of the house is not an option.
Bureau Report