摘要
With industrialization,urbanization and modernization,the family institution has inevitably undergone changes. China has witnessed extraordinary social transformations over the past three decades. These forces have jointly brought about profound changes to the family organization. This paper traces the changing trend,patterns and characteristics in family structure,explores the causes of such change,and analyzes its consequences to family relationships and family functions in recent years in China. It has found that family size has shrunk,number of generations in the family is reduced,family forms become more diversified,and family relationship remain intimate but distanced. Also,many traditional family functions have been taken over by public agencies,and family norms and culture have been reshaped. While changes occur in various ways and important challenges remain,the Chinese family has been so far resilient to societal transformation due to its deeply rooted tradition and current structural constraints. These have made intergenerational reciprocity attractive and prevented the Chinese family from decline. In the future,the government and the family have to face challenges brought about by demographic transition,persistently large-scale migration,and changing norms towards the family.
With industrialization, urbanization and modernization, the family institution has inevitably undergone changes. China has witnessed extraordinary social transformations over the past three decades. These forces have jointly brought about profound changes to the family organization. This paper traces the changing trend, patterns and characteristics in family structure, explores the causes of such change, and analyzes its consequences to family relationships and family functions in recent years in China. It has found that t：amily size has shrunk, number of generations in the family is reduced, family forms become more diversified, and family relationship remain intimate but distanced. Also, many traditional family functions have been taken over by public agencies, and falnily nonns and culture have been reshaped. While changes occur in various ways and impollant challenges remain, the Chinese family has been so far resilient to societal transtbnnation due to its deeply rooted tradition and cunent structural constraints. These have made intergenerational reciprocity attractive and prevented the Chinese family from decline. In the future, the government and the family have to lace challenges brought about by demographic transition, persistently large-scale migration, and changing norms towards the family.
