The Paradox of Bride Price in Contemporary China: Q&A with Shirley Xinyi Cai

Shirley Xinyi Cai is a researcher in comparative politics and political theory, pursuing a Ph.D. in Political Science at McGill University. One of her ongoing projects is about the caili (彩礼, i.e. bride price or betrothal gift), a deep-rooted marriage custom that calls on the family of the groom-to-be to pay a sum of money to the bride’s family.ChinaFile editorial fellow Jeremy Goldkorn did a Q&