Hong Kong in the post Second World War period has experienced quite a number of social changes, in terms of political condition, economy and population structure. Family, as one of the most principal social institutions, is shaped by these external forces, which give rise to transformations in the familial ethos, along with different sets of familial values and practices. However, family is not only at the receiving end of social changes (OUHK, 2013). It is able to exert certain influences on society as well. In this essay, the reciprocal relationship between the family and society in postwar Hong Kong is examined with reference to relevant academic studies. The first part is about how the family institution is conducive to stability and …show more content…
It suggests that individuals are inclined to view familial interests rather than the interests of society as primary consideration and material interests are the most significant among the familial interests (Lau, 1981). Utilitarianistic familism arose from specific circumstances of Hong Kong in the 1950s. In fear of the communist rule in China, a substantial amount of Mainland Chinese left for Hong Kong to seek refuge (). Despite the rapid population expansion, social services and welfare provisions from the colonial government were insufficient under its laissez-faire policies. Many people turned to their family and familial groups for assistance (Leung, 1996). In addition, the colonial governance was undemocratic with only few channels for political participation (). The industrial sector, meanwhile, was growing so quickly that more opportunities for social advancement were available in the economic realm than the political realm (Leung, 1996). Given these backgrounds, people had a strong orientation towards the utilitarian familial ethos. Relationships within the family put heavy emphasis on mutual exchange of material assistance and support in the face of economic hardship (Leung, 1996). Hong Kong family became socially isolated. Concentrating on the pursuit of its own economic interests, the family was unconcerned about social and …show more content…
different from working-class families, better-off families with more resources can aim for the more ambitious family objective of entrepreneurship and corporate business advance instead of mere family survival. moreover, traditional Chinese familism promotes the idea that family is the key basis for socio-economic advancement and the rapidly growing economy creates abundant business opportunities (Leung, 1996). thus, better-off families have the ability and incentive to put entrepreneurial familism into practice, which refers to the household strategy that makes use of the family’s resources to launch and operate business enterprises (Wong, 1988). this familial economic ethos is prevalent across society. family-owned and operated business enterprises are commonly found in Hong Kong. some familial values and practices infiltrate into the operation of these enterprises, hence favorable for the economy. three forms of familism in business enterprises are mentioned in Wong’s discussion (1988). first, family ownership means having control over the business. family members and extended kin can offer a reliable form of personal trust which is a crucial part of business trust (Wong, 1991). when business operations are based on trust rather than
In this paper, a scenario of the Brice family from the book “The Family Crucible” will be described in detail. The Family Development Theory and the Family System Theory will be analyzed to understand the Brice’s family scenario. Also, the two theories will be compared to discover which theory is more productive when analyzing this family’s scenario. Finally, the importance of culture in family issues will be discuss as well as how it helps the development of the family and how it broader its perspective in global issues.
In her book, The House of Lim, author Margery Wolf observes the Lims, a large Chinese family living in a small village in Taiwan in the early 1960s (Wolf iv). She utilizes her book to portray the Lim family through multiple generations. She provides audiences with a firsthand account of the family life and structure within this specific region and offers information on various customs that the Lims and other families participate in. She particularly mentions and explains the marriage customs that are the norm within the society. Through Wolf’s ethnography it can be argued that parents should not dec5pide whom their children marry. This argument is obvious through the decline in marriage to simpua, or little girls taken in and raised as future daughter-in-laws, and the influence parents have over their children (Freedman xi).
Chinese parenting is competent at times but there are other times where it is more suitable to follow other forms of parenting such as the Western style.These findings have important consequences for the broader domain of parent-child relationships. Whether it is Chinese parenting or Western parenting the relationship between family members is crucial. According to Amy Chua, Chinese parenting is more effective in helping the child attain a better future through the parents’ interests, while Western parenting style reflects mainly the interests of the child.
A family is a group of people consisting of the parents and their children who live together and they are blood related. The family is always perceived as the basic social units whether they are living together in the same compound or at far distance but are closely related especially by blood. Therefore, the family unit has had a great influence on the growth and the character traits possessed by the children as they grow up and how they perceive the society they live in. the family also shapes the children to be able to relate well with other people that are not part of their family and with a good relationship it impacts to the peace achieved in country. This paper addresses the reasons as to why the family is considered the most important agent of socialization. It’s evident that families have changed over time and they have adopted different ways of living. This paper also tackles on the causes of the dramatic changes to the American family and what the changes are. Different people with different race, gender and preferences make the family unit and this makes the difference in marriages. This will also be discussed in this paper.
Lastly, the author argues that Chinese parents’ high level of expectation results in utterly differing parenting method. While Western parents’ role in their children’s lives is primarily a supporting one, Chinese parents intensely drill their children in preparation the
The American family can be defined in as many ways as there are families. For a single person, he or she may define his or her family as his or her pet. Others may define family as his or her friends, but for most people, family is traditionally defined as including his or her biological parents, siblings and immediate blood relations. The traditional American family, despite being depicted in television shows, such as Leave It To Beaver or buzzwords for marked political agendas, is a falsehood that truly never existed for the vast majority of Americans. The birth of the women’s liberation movement of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s is often held responsible for the breakdown of the “traditional” family consisting of the working father, stay-at-home
Conflict resolution in Chinese societies is mainly based on Confucianism. The overriding principle of society is that the superior in a group is to be respected. When a conflict arises, Chinese will consider the nature of their relationship. Within a family structure, the superior should be obeyed, so a subordinating family member may have to be willing to sacrifice their own comfort or desire in order to maintain peace (Hwang, 1998). Sometimes a subordinating family member will simply change or forsake their original goal. In Chinese culture it is important for society to believe all is well in a family even if it is not (Hwang, 1998).
Firstly, the relationship expectations in Chinese customs and traditions were strongly held onto. The daughters of the Chinese family were considered as a shame for the family. The sons of the family were given more honour than the daughters. In addition, some daughters were even discriminated. “If you want a place in this world ... do not be born as a girl child” (Choy 27). The girls from the Chinese family were considered useless. They were always looked down upon in a family; they felt as if the girls cannot provide a family with wealth. Chinese society is throwing away its little girls at an astounding rate. For every 100 girls registered at birth, there are 118 little boys in other words, nearly one seventh of Chinese girl babies are going missing (Baldwin 40). The parents from Chinese family had a preference for boys as they thought; boys could work and provide the family income. Due to Chinese culture preference to having boys, girls often did not have the right to live. In the Chinese ethnicity, the family always obeyed the elder’s decision. When the family was trying to adapt to the new country and they were tryin...
In the family aspect, female in the typical Chinese-lineage dominated society owned little freedom as well as the right of coming to grips of properties. All of the above happened, according to prof. Ma, owing to women were defined as not trust-worthy and considered as outsiders. With this being prevalent, female, no matter married or not, are expected to stay at home. They were responsible for all the housework and daily living needs foe the family. Thanks to the domination of patrilineal values, women`s social life was dominated as well as blocked. The gender role of male in the family are mainly the leader of the family and the sources of the family income. Thus, it can...
...ues the Chinese chose instead to uphold their values and some societal relations such as the position of women and the definitions of public and private space between men and women came under scrutiny. The duties of filial piety have a place in traditional Chinese society and have to value to continue to evolve with the country, but values are only worth keeping if they do not hinder the progress and growth of a nation.
Through strong family structures, and high educational standards, the middle class in China has gained strength in order to aspire for an improved lifestyle.
Yan, Jun, and Ritch Sorenson. "The effect of Confucian values on succession in family business." Family Business Review 19.3 (2006): 235-250.
Historically, the Chinese have considered the family as the basic unit of society. Familial principles such as obedience, loyalty, and kinship have been cherished in all states. In premodern China, many philosophers discussed their own beliefs about family. Confucius and other philosophers defined that an exemplary family was the one in which parents cared about their children, and children obeyed their parents. The Analects of Confucius discusses filiality, a traditional obedience to parents and ancestors, as its central theme. When an individual understands the concept of filiality and practices it, he can establish his moral way of behaving. Deference to elders in a family is considered the roots for accomplishing one’s comprehensive ethics. In the Han dynasty, filial piety was a political ideal as well as a familial virtue. Thus, emphasis on this familial virtue increased significantly. Confucius argued that filial piety begins with serving one’s parents and continues with serving the emperor. Being obedient to one’s parents was a prerequisite to being loyal to the emperor. On th...
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a family is "a group of two or more people who reside together and who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption.” (Eutk). In the beginning, family was considered to be all of the individuals who contributed to the household as far as bringing in money; including servants and non-parental adults, who are also considered part of the family if they play a large role in the upbringing or care-taking of children other than their own. But in fact, over the last few centuries until present day, the institution of the family has completely changed. In the late-18th Century, marriage was considered just a union based on love, but as time passed, there were other financial, social, and political shifts in the United States and in other countries. Throughout our course readings in Gender Studies, we see the ideas of continuity and change in regards to the American family unit. There were multiple factors that influenced the institution of the family unit, including the argument that marriage was seen as a contract of survival, the privatization of marriage, as well as the idea that traditional families never existed.
To thoroughly elaborate on the institution of family we most look at the family as it was before and how much it has changed over time. Throughout the years we are recognizing that the family is slowly being replaced by other agents of socialization. Families in the past consisted of a mother and a father and most times children. We are, as many societies a patriarchal society; men are usually the head of the households. This has always been considered the norm.