CULTURE: Woman Marrying Herself

Facing social pressure to get married, a 30-year-old Taiwanese woman has decided to forgo finding a husband—and marry herself. She isn't against marriage, or anti-men. Chen Wei-yih simply feels that the pressure to marry and the tradition involved are too much, reports Reuters. Local government is concerned about dropping birth rates and the associated economic effects as women are marrying later and less frequently. It seems however, that many feel sympathetic to her choice, as online publicity has garnered 1,800 comments largely in agreement with her.

"Age 30 is a prime period for me," says the bride-to-be. "My work and experience are in good shape, but I haven't found a partner, so what can I do? It's not that I'm anti-marriage. I just hope that I can express a different idea within the bounds of a tradition." Following her wedding reception next month (she can't officially register herself as a marriage partner) she will be going on a solo honeymoon to Australia.