Mistresses, sex workers part of same supply chain, says sociologist

Mistresses and sex workers belong to the same supply-chain - albeit at different levels, says a renowned Chinese sexologist.

Li Yinhe, a sociology professor and widow of the late Chinese novelist Wang Xiaobo, shared her observations with more than 200 attendees at Hunan’s first-ever “Love and Culture” forum in Changsha, last Monday.

“Because a mistress is long-term and a sex worker is a one-off relationship, the former represents wholesale and the latter retail,” said Li.

Since the government does not treat mistresses as criminals, Li said they should not treat prostitutes as criminals either.

Li was at the forum, organised by the Changsha Maria Maternity Hospital, discussing love, sex and maternity.

According to the hospital, it performed more than 10,000 abortions since 2010 with about 45 per cent consisting of unmarried women under the age of 25. The youngest patient was reportedly 12-years-old.

On the subject of marriage, the sociology professor said that judging from its current form, it would soon break away from its “shackles” and become more "free" in the future. This would eventually put an end to the age-old practice of marrying purely for socio-economic reasons.

“The reason we had marriage was [traditionally] to bear children and allow each generation to inherit private property,” she said.

“If there are other uses for property and less cohabiting couples raising children, then the institution of marriage is likely to become extinct,” she added.