When marrying a foreigner kicks in

Trip Start Jun 03, 2006
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Flag of China  ,
Monday, January 28, 2008

As a foreigner living in China I'm used to being discriminated against or treated as being a bit different. I'd rather it wasn't thus, but gripe as I may, I accept that this is just the way it is if I want to choose to live in China.  Day to day unfamiliarity with foreigners and racial stereotyping are one thing, but institutionalised prejudice is a bit more disconcerting. Nonetheless, I just have to accept it.
 
My wife, Michelle has listened to my grumbles about her own country and often sympathises with me. However, it was a bit of a shock for her to find out that she is suddenly a second-class Chinese citizen, deprived of her normal rights and subject to institutional discrimination because she has married me, a foreigner.
 
All newly married Chinese citizens are entitled to a free sexual health check to prepare them for the instant procreation which is typically expected within 12 months of marriage. When we were married we were given a voucher entitling us to the check up at our local hospital The check up also includes a sexual education lecture to make up for something which I gather is not part of the High School curriculum. I wasn't exactly doing somersaults at going through a day of tests at a hospital and the lecture, but why not? We'd got ourselves checked in and were lined up for blood tests when there was a big commotion and a doctor rushed us out of the room and almost bundled us out of the front door with the news that foreigners weren't allowed to have the test. It was pretty unpleasantly done but I wasn't too bothered until we were told that Michelle couldn't have the test either because I was here husband. It's not the not getting the test, but the reason for not getting it which sticks in the throat. She's married a foreigner, so now she is going to be treated as one in China.
 
I tried to imagine how I'd feel if it happened to me in the UK, and I can only imagine disillusionment and alienation. After all, whatever we may or may not think about nations and our own nationalities they do make up an integral part of our identity. Rejection by your own state must come as a bit of a blow.
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