Explainer | ‘Divorce pals’: new China trend sees single mothers team up, live together, share resources
- 59.4 per cent of divorced women in China get little or no child support, alliances formed outside marriage offer no protection under law
A trend has emerged in China which sees people post messages on social media looking for a “divorce partner”.
The objective is to bring two previously married individuals – predominantly single mothers – together to form new households, where they can support each other with shared living costs and childcare.
The Post takes a closer look at the phenomenon.
Post-divorce challenges
The rise of divorce partnerships involving lone mothers is primarily driven by the practical challenges they face after separation from their husbands.
Many need to work to pay the bills, which complicates their ability to care for their children.
According to the China Women’s News, a survey of 271 single mothers showed that 59.4 per cent had never received child support from their ex-husbands, and those who often received payments lower than the courts ordered.
In this context, forming alliances outside marriage is seen as a solution for many single mothers, in which one party can work to earn an income while the other takes care of the children and household demands.
