ABSTRACT
The chapter foregrounds the basic rationales and objectives for centering on premarital abortion as the subject of focus. It highlights the distinctiveness of the study of premarital abortion in China and its contributions to the academic discussion on reproduction and family research in China and the West. The chapter summarizes the theoretical foundation of the study and introduces the analytical framework that examines the individual, relational, and institutional dimensions within the context of premarital abortion. It also details the fieldwork and explains the methodological concerns, including the standpoint of the researcher, ethical considerations, and research limitations, along with a brief sketch of the socio-economic backgrounds of the informants.
