Family change in China:a-70 year perspective

From the perspective of family life cycle,and drawing on data from national population censuses,and one percent population surveys,as well as other relevant resources,this paper examines the changing trajectory of the Chinese family over the past 70 years,particularly since the reform and opening-up in 1978.It has been found that the changes of family life cycle are embedded in the broad context of socioeconomic transformation and demographic transition.The delayed age at first marriage has postponed the onset of family formation;the substantially reduced number of children has shortened the length of family expansion,but increased the time span of family stability and empty-nest,and the family is becoming old due to low birthrate and longer life expectancy.In other words,the six-stages associated with the traditional family life cycle has been largely reshaped in the past 70 years,which in turn substantially compromised traditional family functions.In the new era,therefore,it is necessary for the government to provide family-friendly policies in childcare and elderly support in order to fill in the gap in family-oriented public services,and to improve the potentials of long-term development of Chinese families.

The Chang Family:Combining Confucianism and Commerce

THE term “Jinshang” or “Shanxi merchant” is a tribute to Shanxi merchants during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The industry and wisdom of Shanxi merchants over centuries elevated some to the level of business magnate. The Chang family in Shanxi’s Yuci is a perfect example of the Jinshang.

Chinese Family Patterns Undergo Changes

IN China, family patterns change as children get married, have children and the family line continues. Aunt Cheng is a retired teacher. After her husband died, Aunt Cheng continued to live with her unmarried younger son. She got on well with neighbors in the building, who would often see her out walking with her son. One day, she began to furnish their apartment. Her neighbors assumed her

Old Family Tree Idea has Changed

CHEN Xueping was born at the beginning of this century, in Sanhe County, Hebei Province. At that time the economy in Sanhe, an agricultural county, was backward with only a few limekilns and coal mines. Chen Xueping married into the Zhang family in Duanjialing Village when

Is there a Chinese pattern of the second demographic transition?

The Second Demographic Transition(SDT)is a useful theoretical framework for explaining the recent trend in many countries of very low fertility combined with alternative union and family types.Although past studies have observed the SDT in many Western societies,whether it is applicable to East Asia remains unclear.Capitalizing on data from the Chinese Census and China Family Panel Studies,we provide estimates of key behavioral and ideational indicators of the SDT.We find that union formation in China has trended increasingly toward patterns commonly observed in the West,including delayed age of marriage and the common practice of premarital cohabitation.While having a lowest-low fertility rate,China has not experienced rising nonmarital childbirths,a key component of the SDT.However,we observe growing tolerance toward nonmarital childbearing and childlessness.Marriages remain relatively stable in China,especially among couples with children.Taken together,our analysis suggests that typically coincident changes in patterns of family behavior associated with the SDT are not occurring simultaneously in China.Moreover,ideational changes are preceding behavioral changes,particularly in attitudes toward nonmarital childbearing and childlessness.Our research suggests a different pattern of the SDT in China,which has been heavily influenced by Confucian culture.