中国式断亲:当代亲属关系的演变与生活模式重构

Chinese Kinship Break-off:The Changes in Contemporary Kinship and the Reconstruction of Life Pattern

不同于西方家庭现代化的理论预设,中国亲属关系作为一种传统要素在现代化进程中以另外一种形式再现。当代青年断亲现象反映了转型期中国个体与家庭关系从脱嵌到再嵌的动态演变过程,以及在这个过程中呈现出的家庭化个体的生活模式。这既是中国人对婚姻家庭制度本身的生活期待和自主选择,也暗含着中国人对家庭主义文化的工具性利用,而家庭主义文化的实用性策略是形成中国亲属关系脱嵌后再嵌的更重要因素。这不仅展现了中国家庭亲属关系弹性伸缩的文化特质,也体现了中国个体化进程中人们重新嵌入社会的一种努力。鉴于现代化过程中家庭的变动及其自身的风险性,无论是国家还是个体都要看到家庭化个体的生活模式仅仅是“压缩的现代性”下中国人防御现代化变迁的一种能动适应和权宜之计。

Different from the theoretical assumptions of Western family modernization,Chinese kinship,as a traditional element,has reemerged in another form in the process of modernization.This paper examines the dynamic evolution of the relationship between individuals and families in China during the transition period from disengagement to reengagement from the perspective of youth kinship breakoff experiences,and reveals the lifestyle of family-oriented individualism in this process.This is not only the life expectation and independent choice of the Chinese people to the marriage and family'system itself,but also the instrumental use of the practical strategy of familism.The practical strategy of familism is a more important factor in the formation of Chinese family relations.This not only showcases the flexible and adaptive cultural traits of Chinese family kinship,but also an effort to reintegrate into society in the process of Chinese individuation.In view of the family's transformation and inherent risks during the process of modernization,both the state and individuals should recognize that adopting a lifestyle of family-oriented individualism is only a kind of dynamic adaptation and expedient measure for Chinese people to defend against the modernization changes under the“compressed modernity”.