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The Impacts of Modernity on Family Structure and Function : a Study Among Beijing, Hong Kong and Yunnan Families

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The Impacts of Modernity on Family Structure and Function : a Study Among Beijing, Hong Kong and Yunnan Families Lingnan University Digital Commons @ Lingnan University Theses & Dissertations Department of Sociology and Social Policy 1-1-2012 The impacts of modernity on family structure and function : a study among Beijing, Hong Kong and Yunnan families Ting CAO Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.ln.edu.hk/soc_etd Part of the Family, Life Course, and Society Commons Recommended Citation Cao, T. (2012). The impacts of modernity on family structure and function: A study among Beijing, Hong Kong and Yunnan families (Doctoral dissertation, Lingnan University, Hong Kong). Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.14793/soc_etd.29 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Sociology and Social Policy at Digital Commons @ Lingnan University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Lingnan University. Terms of Use The copyright of this thesis is owned by its author. Any reproduction, adaptation, distribution or dissemination of this thesis without express authorization is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. THE IMPACTS OF MODERNITY ON FAMILY STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION: A STUDY AMONG BEIJING, HONG KONG AND YUNNAN FAMILIES CAO TING PHD LINGNAN UNIVERSITY 2012 THE IMPACTS OF MODERNITY ON FAMILY STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION: A STUDY AMONG BEIJING, HONG KONG AND YUNNAN FAMILIES by CAO Ting A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Sciences (Sociology) LINGNAN UNIVERSITY 2012 ABSTRACT The Impacts of Modernity on Family Structure and Function: a Study among Beijing, Hong Kong, and Yunnan Families by CAO Ting Doctor of Philosophy For a generation in many sociological literatures, China has provided the example of traditional family with good intra-familial relationship, filial piety and extended family support which is unusually stable and substantially unchanged. However, with the emergence of modernity, in the forms of industrialization and urbanization; capitalization and public policy transformation, the family structure has undergone changes where nuclear and asymmetrical types have emerged. At the same time, family support for the elderly is affected by the changes in family formation, family dynamics, as well as people’s values and their way of life. Do the theories concerning the relationship between modernity and family change that have been proposed and developed by western scholars, apply to Chinese societies also? Are there any differences between Western and Chinese culture in forming family organizations during modernity? For answering these questions, this study explores the impact of modernity on family structure and changing functions in terms of family support for elderly in China. The aim is to understand why and how family change in its structure and functions within modernity. To fit the purpose and nature of this study, the exploratory strategy is used. By adopting historical review in the first stage, families in six historical stages (legendary and heroic age; Neolithic age; Xia, Shang and Western Zhou dynasty; Spring and Autumn, Warring States, Qin and the Western Han dynasty; from Eastern Han to early and middle period of Qing; and Late period of Qing until more recent years) are examined to show the “macro-transformations” and “micro-adaptive adjustments” that had happened to Chinese families in history. Then, adopting the methodological concept of invariance, multiple-case (M-C) studies in three areas in China are conducted to illustrate the Chinese families in different level of modernization, namely the agrarian pre-modern (Yunnan), the transforming-mix modern (Beijing), and the capitalist modernized (Hong Kong). Based on the survey data and from analysis of semi-structured interview with 62 respondents about their own family experiences and 8 experts about their viewpoint and explanations, there is evidence showing that corresponding structure and family support for elderly changes are aiding modernization under diverse socio-economic characteristics (i.e. under developed, developing and developed localities). To explain this phenomenon under study, a geo-adaptation model is developed from both macro and micro perspective to give insight on how modernity affects the ways of family support for elderly members. It has concluded that the development of modernity, as one of the vital reasons, contribute to changes in family structure globally (i.e. from stem and extended to nuclear and diverse form), but the care function for the aged, is not destined to deteriorate. To some extent, the Chinese tradition of filial piety and the family policy could strengthen social cohesion by maintaining the core functions once provided by the stem and extended family. DECLARATION I declare that this is an original work based primarily on my own research, and I warrant that all citations of previous research, published or unpublished, have been duly acknowledged. __ . (Cao Ting) Date: CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………………...vi LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………...viii LIST OF CHARTS…………………………………………………………………..ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS………………………………………………………..x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………………………xi Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview of Context…………………………………………………………….1 1.2 Statement of Purpose and Research Questions………………………………….4 1.3 Rationale and Significance………………………………………………………6 1.4 Research Approach………………………………………………………….… 10 1.5 Assumption Made of Change within the Chinese Family……………………...14 1.6 Organization of the Study………………………………………………………18 Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 The Definition of Family……………………………………………………….20 2.2 The Concept of Modernity……………………………………………………...22 2.3 “Modernity” and Its Impacts on Family……………………………………....28 2.3.1 The changing structure of the family……………………………………...28 2.3.2 The changing functions of the family……………………………………..37 2.4 Changing Family Structure and Function in China…………………………......39 2.5 Chapter Summary……………………………………………………………….44 Chapter3: AN ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK CONCERNING MODERNITY AND CHANGE IN THE CHINESE FAMILY 3.1 Four Institutional Dimensions of Modernity and Its Implications........................46 3.2 The Analytical Framework of the Present Research.............................................50 3.2.1 Macro institutional consequences of modernity in China..........................56 3.2.2 Four processes of development and change within family structure.........61 i 3.3 Rethinking Four Processes of Developments and Change in Family...................65 Chapter 4: METHODOLOGY 4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………..68 4.2 Historical Review………………………………..................................................69 4.3 Multiple-case Study Method……………………………………………………72 4.3.1 Introduction and rationales for multiple-case study method……………..72 4.3.2 Overview of research design and procedures…………………………….73 4.3.3 The research sample and units of analysis……………………………….74 4.3.4 Data-collection methods and data sources……………………………….75 4.3.5 Methods for data analysis and synthesis…………………………………78 4.4 Summary and Issues and Trustworthiness……………………………………...82 Chapter 5: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF CHINESE FAMILIES 5.1 The Problems of Defining Chinese Family Type..................................................86 5.2 Family History in Traditional China…………………………………………….90 5.2.1 The legendary and heroic age and the emergence of the family…………91 5.2.2 Shen Nong Shi 神農氏 and the new stone age.........................................92 5.2.3 Fromg Xia, Shang, and Western Zhou: family in the “fengjian” system..95 5.2.4 Spring and Autumn, Warring States, Qin and the Western Han Dynasty: the gradually independence of the individual family….............96 5.2.5 From Eastern Han to the Early and Middle periods of Qing: stem and extended family……………………………………………...............99 5.2.6 Late period of Qing and family revolution..............................................101 5.3 Universality and Disparity: Sketching a New Paradigm for Analyzing the Chinese Family..................................................................................................103 5.3.1 Analysis of general family patters: social, economic, and political development.................................................................................................103 5.3.2 Analysis of differences in the Chinese traditional family: the interplay between macro and micro factors.................................................................107 ii 5.3.3 Implications for the development of the Chinese family in modern times .......................................................................................................................109 Chapter 6: PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS: MODERNITY AND FAMILY CHANGES IN A YUNNAN VILLAGE 6.1 Wenlin: A Brief Introduction…………………………………………………..112 6.2 The Impact of Modernity in the Village………………………………….........115 6.2.1 Agricultural economy…………………………………………………..115 6.2.2.Division of labor……………………………………………..................117 6.2.3 Isolation and low mobility……………………………………………...120 6.2.4 Social policy related to family in the village………………………… ..123 6.3 The Changing Family Structure and Support of Elderly in Wenlin Village…...129 Chapter 7: PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS: MODERNITY AND FAMILY CHANGES IN BEIJING 7.1 Beijing: A Brief Introduction…………………………………………………..135 7.2 The Impact of Modernity in Beijing……………………………………….......136 7.2.1 The development of industrialization…………………………………..136 7.2.2 Wage labor and employment
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