The New Chinese Family / By Ji Yingchun

Foreword by Cai Yaping and Tong Xin. Recommended by Xie Yu, Wu Xiaogang, Wu Xiaoying, Tong Yuying, Shen Yifei, and Qian Yue. **"Our families constantly create problems, and we continue to live within them, carrying these issues."** **An In-depth Look into Women's Daily Lives: Decoding the New Chinese Family Landscape** **How can we understand contemporary Chinese families? How does societal change impact our relationships with partners, children, and across generations?** In the course of China's modernization, the "family," as the core unit of society, has undergone multifaceted transformations: individuals have become more independent, yet families continue to bear the heavy responsibility of care and emotional support; patriarchal family structures are gradually loosening, but gendered divisions of labor and responsibilities persist for women in new forms; the traditional concept of "filial piety" appears to be waning, while interdependence and reliance among family members grow ever tighter. These tensions and contradictions form the unavoidable everyday experiences of contemporary Chinese people. From a feminist perspective, the author uses women's daily lives and family experiences as a lens to dissect the various manifestations of contemporary Chinese families, breaking down the underlying structural changes and their causes. By entering the lives of women from different generations and with diverse family roles, this book presents a family portrait where emotions and responsibilities intertwine, and tradition coexists with modernity. While deeply rooted in the East Asian context, this portrait reveals a path of family change unique to China. Full Title: The New Chinese Family: Women and the Remaking of Modern Family Portraits Author: Ji Yingchun ISBN: 978-988-237-410-2 Binding: Paperback Language: Traditional Chinese Pages: 364 Dimensions: 210 x 148 mm **About the Author** **Ji Yingchun** Professor at the School of Sociology, Shanghai University. Her primary research areas include family sociology, gender studies, population transition, and studies on Chinese modernity. She has been recognized among the World's Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier in their 2024 "Annual Highly Cited Researchers" list and has been included in Elsevier's "Highly Cited Scholars in China (Sociology)" list for 2023, 2024, and 2025. **Endorsements** With meticulous fieldwork and profound academic insight, the author sketches the multifaceted landscape of contemporary Chinese families, allowing readers to connect with intimate details while also gaining a deeper understanding of the underlying social structures and cultural logic. This book is highly recommended for all readers interested in Chinese society and family issues. —**Xie Yu**, Professor at Princeton University and Peking University The author not only reveals the complexity and internal tensions of the "New Chinese Family" but also showcases the rich connotations and unique scenery of modernity within the Chinese context. —**Wu Xiaoying**, Researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences This book keenly captures the key changes in contemporary Chinese families. The interweaving of tradition and modernity, the expansion of bilateral ties, and the confusion of women's roles amidst the scarcity of care and the intensity of educational competition offer readers tools to understand reality while also providing comfort and empathy for their own experiences. —**Tong Yuying**, Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong The anxieties of being pressured into marriage, the emotional exhaustion of parenting, the tensions between couples, the conflicts between generations, and the struggles of non-traditional relationships are all given theoretical explanations and empathetic comfort in this book. —**Shen Yifei**, Associate Professor at Fudan University From "Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai only-child daughters," "no marriage, no children, stay safe," to "widowed parenting" and "cohabitation without marriage," Professor Ji's "Mosaic Family Theory" comprehensively analyzes the variegated landscape of modern Chinese families and the social mechanisms behind family changes. —**Qian Yue**, Professor at the University of British Columbia