“Free Maid” Anxiety: Rational Risk Perception and Anti-Marriage Tendencies of Teenage Girls in Urban China

Abstract

Amidst the de-institutionalization of marriage and rising marital anxiety in urban China, women are increasingly displaying negative attitudes toward marriage. However, while existing literature predominantly focuses on adult women, the marital perceptions of adolescent girls, who are in a critical period for forming these attitudes, remain largely underexplored. To address this gap, this study conducted in-depth interviews with four adolescent girls (aged 14–17) in Shenzhen exhibiting anti-marriage tendencies. Findings reveal that participants conceptualize marriage through the core metaphor of a “Free Maid,” anticipating continuous losses in economic independence, physical health, and self-worth without reciprocal returns. This perception is driven by two main factors: direct observations of gender inequality within parental marriages and the amplification of marital risks (e.g., domestic violence) via social media echo chambers. By integrating rational choice and risk society theories, this study elucidates the dual logic of cost calculation and risk aversion among female adolescents, providing empirical insights into the premature marital anxiety of urban youth.