Effects of Reality TV on Divorce
Reality TV in America plays a significant role in shaping the public’s perception of romance, relationships, and divorce. Magazines are filled with stories of the latest rumors, break-ups, and affairs among reality stars. Those who read the magazines often develop their own opinions about marriage and divorce based on those stories.
But imagine a reality star’s actions actually influencing divorce laws. That’s a pretty convincing explanation for a major change to divorce laws in China.
The Globe and Mail wrote an article suggesting that a reality star from a Chinese matchmaking program might have spurred a change in China’s Marriage law. Ma Nuo, a notorious contestant of the show (think Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi of the Jersey Shore), remarked on the show that she “would rather weep in a BMW than laugh on a bicycle with you.”
After that statement and some speculate because of it, China’s Supreme People’s Court re-interpreted China’s decades-old Marriage Law. As the law now stands, whichever spouse pays for a house gets to keep the house after the divorce. This is particularly significant in China, where it is traditional for the groom and his family to buy a house, and the bride and her family to furnish and decorate it, before the marriage. In fact, this custom is so common that getting married without a home is called a “Naked Marriage.”
This change in the law will have major consequences for family law and divorce lawyers in China where divorce rates are climbing, especially for women. In marriages that follow the traditional model, women are likely to end up without access to what is usually the most valuable property in a marriage. Women, now more financially vulnerable in the divorce process, may become increasingly reluctant to pursue a divorce, even when there are severe problems in the marriage. Men, on the other hand, face substantially lighter consequences, and may be able to afford divorce much more often. The change might even alter the decision to get married in the first place– knowing that the man would have much more security than the woman.
It will be interesting to see how China’s divorce law evolves in the coming years. This is certainly one of the more fascinating developments!
Michael C. Craven is a well-known divorce attorney in Chicago, CPA and a partner of the law firm Beermann Pritikin Mirabelli Swerdlove LLP. (Formerly of Beermann, now a Partner at Harrison LLP) located in the Chicago area. He is highly respected among other divorce attorneys, judges and his clients. He also holds a Master of Tax Law Degree (LLM). For more information about his services, contact Michael at mcraven@harrisonheld.com or at Divorce Lawyers Chicago
