FAMILY+LIFE


 * Chinese Family Life **

__ Traditional Chinese Family __ By: Shannon H. Have you ever wondered how the traditional Chinese family was set up? What control the mother, father and children had within the family? The family had a major role in the culture of China because they lived with many of their family members. At some times 100 or more family members lived in a home at one time (Destiny). The structure of the family was highly influenced by religion (Chinese Cultural). The family was set up with a hierarchy that had the father as the head of the family, followed by the mother, and last the children. The father had complete control of all family issues and final say. A man had the legal right to divorce his wife for not giving birth to sons (Destiny). The father’s only role in the family was to make money to support his family. The mother was taught from a young age that her role within the family was to obey her husband and give birth to sons. The mother had such little control within the family that after marriage she was forced to give up her name and take her husband’s (China Unique). The children had the least control within the family. Children could be killed by their father for not obeying by Chinese law. The son in the family was valued more than the daughter because only one child was allowed per home and in order to have the family name continued a son was needed. A daughter was seen as useless and was sometimes killed because she was viewed as such. The children were also not allowed to date until their early 20s and even then their spouse was chosen for them when they were infants (China Unique).

 

  __ Modern Chinese Family __ By: Lauren B.

Chinese family life is different from every other culture. In China today there are many laws that the Chinese citizens have to follow. These laws change the lives of Chinese citizens in every way. Today in China family life is different from every other culture because of the one child law, the gender imbalance, and families that only have a mother, father, and20one child.  Something that makes Chinese family life different than any other culture is the one child law. The one child law has been in effect in China since 1978 and it limits families in the cities to having one child only. If the parents have a girl, they are allowed to have another child in hopes of it being a boy. In modern Chinese family life men are valued more than women are. Because of this, there are more men in China then there are women.  In China tod ay there are more men. For every 120 men, there are 100 women. One of the causes for this gender imbalance, is the fact that men are valued more. The one child law also plays a big part. This gender imbalance is a problem that Chinese citizens are faced with today. Most families in China are nuclear families. Nuclear families consist of a mother, father, and one child. Chinese families are only allowed to be nuclear families because of the one child law. If a family is not nuclear it is viewed as abnormal and odd. Nuclear families make modern Chinese family life unique and unlike any other culture in he world. Chinese citizens live with many rules that they have to abide by. All of these rules make Chinese family life different than any other family life today in the world. Modern Chinese family life is unique because of the one child policy, the gender imbalance ,and nuclear families.



Works Cited

"Chinese Culture Family Life." __Chinese Culture Family Life__. Kwintessential Cross Cultural Solutions. 24 Feb. 2009 []. __ China ____ Unique __. Premier Star Co. 24 Feb. 2009 []. Chinese Symbol for Family[Online Image] Available [], March 23, 2009. __ Destiny, the Culture of China __. 1998. 24 Feb. 2009 . Example of a Modern Family [Online Image] Available [], March 23, 2009.

John and Kate Plus 8: Example of a Modern Family [Online Image] Available [], March 23, 2009.

Large Size of a Traditional Family [Online Image] Available [], March 23, 2009. Shows the Law that Allowed Only One Child [Online Image] Available [], March 23, 2009.

Typical Family in Modern Times [Online Image] Available [], March 23, 2009.