Family Concepts and Functions

The focus in this part begins with an introduction to the Chinese traditional concepts of family, and then an enquiry of how these concepts and functions are challenged in modern life and to what extent they can be sustained. Moreover, concepts and functions of the family interact with family structure. The changes in family structure are also closely related to the influences brought by reform

and opening-up. Therefore, relevant phenomena resulting from reform and opening-up such as '421 family', 'little emperor syndrome', no marriage will also be discussed.

The characteristics and functions of tradition Chinese families

Characteristics

The characteristics of traditional Chinese families can be explored in three aspects, including the size of family organization, relationships among members and spiritual culture.

Tsang Tai Uk is one of the well-known walled villages located in Shatin

They live in clans

A clan refers to a group consisting of families with the same family name, same ancestors and same male lineage. A clan keeps a genealogy, builds an ancestral hall and owns clan fields.

The blood relationship of the whole family is dominated by patrilineality (父系制度)

The father has the highest authority and shoulders great responsibilities in the family. Traditional families have a particular focus on father-son relationships. Men have a higher status than women.

In ancient times it was a glorious event to become the top scholar having excelled in the imperial examination.

They are family-oriented (家庭為本)

Family-oriented people put their family and loved ones at the core of their priorities. Family or clan interests are more important than personal interests. Personal efforts aim not at realising one's own values but bringing honour to one's ancestors. Sometimes this idea is also known as collectivism.

They provide a place to live out the thought of Confucianism (儒家思想)

Filial piety: This is the most important virtue that children must obey their parents and take care of them when they get old. This also extends to their ancestors who must also be remembered.
Family pecking order/hierarchy: The young must obey and respect the elders; younger siblings must respect the older. The first-born son has the highest status and can inherit his parents' main estate.
Emphasis on ethical relations and harmonious relationships: Family ties are strong and are one of the cohesive forces of the country. There is a strong sense of identity.

Task 1

Practise how to apply the knowledge and concepts to explain the phenomenon given in this task.

Functions

Apart from sharing the basic functions of family, such as giving birth to children and financial support, a traditional family also possessed some of the functions of the modern society, such as education, security and relief, entertainment or even arbitration.

Changes in Chinese family patterns

Situation

Family size in China continues to becomes smaller

Instead of big families, family patterns have become diversified

Types of diversified families:

Learn the meaning of the types of diversified family types by clicking here, which is taken from p.207 in your textbook.

Causes

What are the causes for modern Chinese families to become smaller and simplier? (Hints are given in the pictures below)

Urbanization: urbanisation and industrialisation have led to a massive movement of people across the country. Young people from rural areas are moving to the cities to work, and most of them are staying in the cities, while their parents and grandparents are still staying in the villages.
Industrialization: People no longer have to rely on the family but can provide for themselves as the diversity of industries provides a large number of employment opportunities. Farming is no longer the only choice for people. They can now leave their families to find work.
Increase in cost of living: The rising cost of housing in big cities has led to an increase in the cost of living, making "four generations in one house" a luxury. In first-tier cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the starting price for a four-bedroom apartment is at least four to five million dollars, which is beyond the affordability level of most families. As a result, young couples become unwilling to have children.
Independence and autonomy by young people: Young people are becoming more independent and autonomous partly due to western influence. This is a time when individuality and freedom are valued and young people do not want to be tied to their family duties. The traditional family structure is in conflict with young people's pursuit of individuality.
Change in traditional values: As patrilineality is not as important as before, it is not imperative to 'have a son to continue the family's bloodline'. To continue the ancestral line is no longer seen as one's major personal responsibility. Children are not regarded as unfilial by not bearing children. In other words, this weakening in traditional family values toward childbearing plays a part in the shrinking family size.

In the question above, the reasons cause a change in family size. However, a large family is only one aspect of the traditional family characteristics and functions. In general,

What are the causes/factors contributing to changes in traditional family concepts and functions?

Society

Structural changes in society: The spread of education has led to equality between men and women, and the transformation of the industrial structure has created a large demand for female workers in the cities. The development of the service sector has also increased the opportunities for women to work outside their homes instead of taking care of the family as their only goal.

Introduction of western culture: Western ideologies have had an impact on the world through globalization, with individualism becoming more prevalent and more people valuing a lifestyle of personal freedom, such as the decision not to follow 'parental orders' in marriage. People are now more interested in pursuing their own personal lives after getting married rather than continuing the family bloodline for the family.

Government

Population policy: In order to control population growth, different family planning policies have been introduced. For example, in Hong Kong, in the face of the post-war baby boom, the slogan "one is just right, two is enough" was advocated. The 'one-child' family planning policy has been implemented in Mainland China since the 1970s. Unless exempted, couples are only allowed to have one child, directly challenging the traditional family model of large family. It was only in 2015 that the policy was opened up to allow for two children.

Social welfare policies: Changes in the family structure have led the government to provide more family support. For example, many socialisation functions have been replaced by schools, and the emergence of homes for the elderly and nurseries has replaced the caring function of the family. As a result, the concepts and functions of the family are further weakened.

Individuals

Mobility of family members: In modern society, the individual is not bound by the constraints of agricultural life. Moreover, the development of transport has increased the mobility of the population. As a result, after the reform and opening up of the Mainland, a large number of rural workers left their children behind in the countryside and went to work in the coastal cities, thus weakening family cohesion.

Impacts

Compared to the past when most people lived in extended families, nuclear families with one or two kids or DINK families are the prevalent small family structures in modern China.

What are the impacts of such small family structures on the concepts of Chinese traditional families?

You need to complete this question as a class task by completing this Google Assignment by click the button below

Google Classroom assignment

Traditional family concepts and functions are culturally distinctive and have positive implications for modern society. If weakened, it will have negative impacts on society.

What are the impacts on the society caused by weakening traditional family concepts and functions?

Concepts

Weakening Ethical Relationships: The emphasis on "respect for seniority" and the "distinction between the superior and the inferior" advocated by Chinese tradition is under attack by egalitarianism in modern society. Children expect to be equal with their parents and may not conform to their parents' wishes, thus weakening the traditional Chinese concept of patriarchy.

Declining family cohesion: The modern family is individualistic and materialistic. The traditional idea of the family as the centre of cohesion in all social activities has faded as family honour is no longer a major consideration in personal development. The fact that both parents work outside has led to a reduction in time spent with the children, resulting in a disconnection between family members.

Child spoiling is a common problem: As the family structure becomes smaller, parents focus their energy and resources on their only child, and tend to spoil their children, resulting in problems such as "Hong Kong kids" and "little emperors".

Functions

Weakening function of continuing the bloodline: The traditional function of reproduction has faded in modern society. Being single and late marriages are common. Even if couples get married, they may not necessarily have children. This affects family succession and family structure.

Inadequate family support: With fewer family members, the family structure has become simpler and the function of family members to take care of each other is weakened. For example, some elders may not be able to support themselves financially due to the lack of financial support from their children. Elderly people in empty-nest families may also suffer from emotional problems due to the lack of care from their children.

Weak emotional and caring functions: Traditional families have the function of caring for the young and the elderly and other family members. In modern society, there are fewer large families and children living apart from their parents after marriage has become the norm, weakening the emotional and financial supporting functions of the family. The emergence of homes for the elderly and nurseries has further weakened the function of the family.

Weakening of the socialization function: Traditionally, the family had a socialization function, and the education of children was the basic responsibility of the family. However, changes in the social structure of modern society have led to the weakening of many family functions, such as the socialization function being replaced by schools.

Other related phenomena

Exam Corner

(1213 P1Q3b) What values are reflected in the views on the roles of men and women given in source? Identify and elaborate on these values. (8 marks) [This was explained during a zoom tutorial on 25-May. For those who could not join the lesson, you can watch the recording here.]
(1516 P2Q1b) To what extent would the two-child policy facilitate the long-term development of China? [This was explored by appreciation answer samples by others (2022-05-31)]
(1718 P2Q1ab) Left-behind children
FBA: Textbook P.219 'lazy before getting rich' (Click here for suggested answer)

Reference:

明光社：家庭結構的轉變是否一件好事?

Task: Cartoon description (Subpage)

Describe and elaborate on the message conveyed in the cartoon. (4 marks)

Google classroom assignment

Task: Sample appreciation

Questions: ‘“Naked marriage” is becoming more accepted by the people in the Mainland. To what extent do you agree with this statement? (8 marks)(The Source can be found here)

Here are two samples, one supporting this argument and one opposing this argument written by some previous students.

Points to focus: Writing structure and how concepts are integrated into answers

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