The term ‘intimacy’ in a romantic relationship is based on positive emotions, level of commitment, physical and cognitive closeness as well as mutuality (Moss & Schwebel, 1993). Great transformations have been taking place in intimacy relationship i.e. changes in the constitution and disintegration of families, and increasing expectations within relationships. Meanwhile, there are ethical dilemmas and social conflicts over sexual intimacy, especially the lesbian and gay existence in Hong Kong.
Marriage in Transition
Marriage changes in time according to its cultural context. In terms of traditional attitudes toward marriage that socially acknowledged and approved sexual union between two adult individuals for propagation. Parents, …show more content…
free from arbitrary power, patriarchy or violence in the modern Hong Kong. The romantic love rides over utilitarian meanings of marriage and romantic love ‘till death do us apart’ since the nuclear nature of relationship emphasizes emotional tie between two individuals. Self-disclosure, social exchange, Dependability and demonstrated mutual interest are positive elements in modern Chinese society to form an intimate …show more content…
Intimate relationship terminated or regained by divorce and remarriage are on the rise in Hong Kong, where it was once taboos and gender biased. In the past, the ‘sevens outs principles’ provided husbands’ unilateral rights to dissolve the marriage), while three “non-outs” principles were the only protection to wives. However, in modern confluent love, a relationship is active and contingent (Giddens, 1993). A study (Department of Social Work and Social Administration, 2008) found that more than a half of Hongkongers would ask professional help e.g. marriage-counselling if they had marital issues, as an evidence of Hongkongers’ ‘hunger for love’ (Beck et al., 1995). Hong Kong women are having agentive roles in when and whether to marry at all or divorce decision-making because of economic independent and educated , as noted the number of divorce cases in 2011 was greater than nine times that in 1981 while remarriages also rose over the same period (Census and Statistics Department, 2012), yet it is not a direct measurement of marital happiness or rejecting marriage as those who have unhappily marriage may still attach together valuing the sanctity of marriage, financial support or most people had children. In fact, a recent study (Ting, 2014)