A new survey shows that more than half of female graduate students in Shanghai show an understanding attitude toward other girls who are kept as lovers by rich men or who work at night clubs.

The survey was conducted by the journalism school of Fudan University in June with more than 900 female students at the city's 17 universities who graduate this year. About 40 percent were from Shanghai, while the rest were from other parts of the country.

Researchers said the students also showed a free and open attitude toward sex and marriage.

Fifty-six percent of the students said they could understand a girl becoming the lover of a rich man, though they wouldn't do it themselves, 20 percent said they despised such behavior, 20 percent said they have no idea why girls do this, and 2 percent considered it normal and said they may make the same choice one day.

Also, 55 percent showed an understanding attitude toward girls who work in night clubs, with nearly 3 percent saying it is normal and that they may possibly to do it themselves one day.

Once sensitive terms like premarital cohabitation, one night stands and premarital sex are no longer taboo among university students, with nearly 70 percent showing an understanding attitude toward living together before marriage. Thirteen percent said they were OK with it if their boyfriends wanted it, almost 7 percent think living together is romantic and is a way to make hearts grow fonder, while 10 percent said it is indecent.

About 5 percent admitted they once lived with a lover in college and 50 percent said premarital sex is acceptable when both sides are willing.

Regarding one-night stands, 70 percent said they don't think it is immoral and 59 percent said "it is acceptable when both sides want it".

Although more than half of the female students show a lenient and understanding attitude toward other people's sexual choices, 74 percent said they had not had sex before and 82 percent oppose "having sex without love". Meanwhile, 71 percent said sex outside marriage harms the family and society's stability, and should be prohibited.

Liao Shengqing, an associate professor at Fudan University's journalism school and the leading researcher of the survey, said the students' attitudes come from their respect for individual privacy. They regard sex as a private matter and respect other people's choices.