Woman Marries Self

Someone's been watching a tad too much Sex and the City. A 30-year-old Taipei office worker named Chen Wei-yih has tired of all the social pressure to get married and the lack of anyone decent to get married to, so she's going it solo, with a wedding planner and photos and a white dress and everything, including 30 friends to witness the momentous occasion. And why not?

"Age 30 is a prime period for me. My work and experience are in good shape, but I haven't found a partner, so what can I do?" Chen said.

"It's not that I'm anti-marriage. I just hope that I can express a different idea within the bounds of a tradition."

Well, that's sweet and all, but how about the "different idea" that you don't, actually, have to get married at all? The idea that you can be successful and happy and single? And that marrying yourself is...well...weird, as well as kind of a waste of money. Why buy the cow when the milk's for free?

Jezebel calls this woman "awesome" and says her story speaks "to a desire to celebrate a certain level of self-actualization and maturity" -- which is fine, if we assume marriage has anything to do with either of those things (dubious), or that being unable to just let go of the tradition altogether and get on with your bad, single self is not preferable to the whole hoopla and ridiculousness of marrying yourself. Chen's question "What can I do?" speaks volumes as to her presumed "empowerment" with regard to this pursuit.

Still,

"I was just hoping that more people would love themselves," said Chen, who will go on a solo honeymoon to Australia.

Fine, we can get behind that sentiment, but, please, toss the white dress and trappings of marriage and press and just go on the freakin' trip, girl.

If you marry yourself, is hooking up with a hot Australian considered cheating? And is this better or worse than marrying a shoe? Things to consider.

[JDoll]