Chapter 15. Families Section 3. Marriage and Family The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families 1

Outline Introduction Historical family structure Contemporary family structure Relationships among grandparents, parents and children The grandparents The parents The child Road ahead 2 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families

Introduction The physical transformation of China in recent decades has been mindboggling. Other imperceptible changes have a more enduring impact on the Chinese society. One such change relates to family structures and the roles of family members 3 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families

Historical family structure Two major characteristics: – Patriarchal structure (older males’ authority and females’ marginalized status) – Multiple generations often lived together (e.g., a point of pride to have four generations of a family to live under the same roof and operate as a unit) 4 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families

Historical family structure Changes over the last century Patriarchal structure collapsed Multigenerational family structures remain quite common 5 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families

Contemporary family structure: and The one-child policy enforced since 1980 Household size shrined: – The family structure, comprised of a young couple (2), their respective parents (4) and their child (1). The Sixth National Population Census (2010) shows the average population per household is 3.10 people, a reduction of 0.34 from – The family structure, comprised of a single parent (usually a single mother) (1), her parents (2) and her child (1). The unprecedented surge of single mothers and the societal challenge to be addressed. 6 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families

Contemporary family structure Why ? The one-child policy The child-rearing costs have increased substantially in China. – Parents normally must support their child throughout their lifetimes, e.g., pay for an apartment for their children’s marriage The benefits of having a child have decreased substantially. 7 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families

Relationships among grandparents, parents and children Traditional family roles still very much exist, even if virtually. The younger generation in China, though longing for independence, cannot afford to be independent monetarily and emotionally. – The burdens of apartments, cars and grandchildren-raising – As the only children, they have the full attention of their parents Unlike in Western cultures, Chinese parents feel that it is both their right and their responsibility to interfere in their children’s lives. 8 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families

The grandparents Who will take care of them when they can no longer take care of themselves? China will have 400 million people over the age of 60 by a survey shows that more than 68.4% of people care for several elderly people, 50.1% of children live apart from their parents. It will be a challenge for children to assume the daily care of her parents. 9 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families

The grandparents In Chinese society, the idea of children taking care of their parents is very ingrained. However, under structure, a young couple(2) find it really hard to manage caring for the old(4). 10 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families

The parents The young parents benefit greatly from grandparent involvement both in terms of childrearing and financial support. However, in this type of family structure, any marital decisions involve six people, not two. Loyalty to parent wins out. e.g., the case of divorce 11 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families

The child Who should raise and educate the child, and how? Many young couples rely on their parents to raise their child. E.g., in different city Conflicts arise form different opinions on how to raise the child Due to the lavish attention from six adults, the only children tend to grow up feeling that they are, and should be, the center of the universe. 12 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families

Road ahead In late 2013, policy changes: a couple can now have two children if the husband or wife is an only child. Two major changes that can be more subtle and enduring: – how the Chinese see the future family structure and the roles of each generation; – a shift in assumptions about close family support: Non- family based support infrastructure, such as more retirement facilities, should be built in response to these changes. 13 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 15. Families