Girls taught to avoid 'sugar daddies'
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According to a recent online poll conducted by China Youth Daily, nearly 60 percent of respondents had peers who hoped to marry or rely on rich and powerful men as a way to realize personal goals. Nearly half of the respondents were born after 1980.
"The essence of self-esteem and self-reliance is a precious traditional wealth. Although female education used to be only appropriate for adults, it is better to start it at school now for early prevention," said Xia Xueluan, a sociology professor at Peking University.
However, some students argued that exposing children to such topics too soon could bring more risks than benefits.
"Mentioning such topics as marrying rich men or being a mistress may suggest ideas to young girls that they had not thought about," said Shen Xiaoqing, an 18-year-old female student at Guangzhou Zhixin Middle School.
Some experts also said such a program is unlikely to dissuade people from marrying for money.
"Wanting to rely on rich men is a complicated social phenomenon caused by various factors and it is improper to attribute it to personal immorality," said Li Xia, an anthropologist working in women's studies and a senior editor at the Commercial Press.
Li said that if society does not provide less-well-off people with opportunities, it is natural that they will look at marriage as a shortcut.
Experts on youth problems suggested that the content and scale of the education should differ according to the age of the students.
"It makes no sense to preach moral values to a 6-year-old girl, while it is essential for female students who are about to graduate to be convinced of the importance of women's development and self-respect," said Zhang Wenjuan, deputy director of Beijing children's legal aid and research center.
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