| Abstract: | In this 1991 study the sex behavior and attitudes of first-year university students in Shanghai, China, were compared to attitudes and beliefs of first-year students in Hong Kong. Findings do not confirm a strong Western influence and increased promiscuity. The evidence suggests that the effect of Westernization or modernization is dependent on and varies with the nature of the imported Western culture and the form of and standards for sex education. Students from Hong Kong, which is more modernized than Shanghai, were less sexually active and more conscientious about using contraception. A high percentage of Shanghai students had experienced sexual intercourse and multiple sex partners. Christian males from the Hong Kong survey had less coital experience than non-Christian Hong Kong males. The surveys were conducted in 22 universities in Shanghai among 1919 first-year students, but only 25.1% responded with completed questionnaires (344 single Chinese males and 137 single Chinese females). The Hong Kong questionnaire was distributed to 7675 students. 2341 single Chinese males and 2247 single Chinese females who were unmarried and non-Chinese completed the survey (a 48.5% response rate). It is argued that restrained female unmarried sexuality is still limited by cultural and religious attitudes. |
