CCCH9023 China: Culture, State and Society
Family and Development in Modern China

This course is under the thematic cluster(s) of:

  • Sustaining Cities, Cultures, and the Earth (SCCE)
  • The Human Life Span (HL)
  • Gender, Sexuality, and Diversity (GSD)

SDG-03
SDG-08
SDG-10
SDG-11
Sustainable Development Goals

Timetable for Lectures
 

Course Description

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the intricate factors that shape family dynamics and development in the context of China’s rapid growth and evolving societal norms. 

Throughout the course, you will engage in captivating lectures and tutorials that are filled with interactive activities and groundbreaking literature on Chinese families. You will gain a deeper understanding of the unique dynamics of family life and development in China and how it shapes the nation’s social, economic, and cultural landscape. 

The course will focus on the connections between family, migration, urbanization, and modernization. You will also delve into topics such as dating, marriage, and family planning. 

Together, we will traverse the path from an individual to a harmonious family unit, embracing the diverse challenges and triumphs that enrich our shared human experience. Along the way, you will be captivated by the fascinating social and economic ripples generated by these family dynamics, inspired by modern China’s exceptional fusion of tradition and innovation. 

Join us on this mesmerizing journey through the family life cycle, and gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing family relationships and development in the context of modern China. We will take you on a unique and unforgettable learning experience centered around the 3Rs: Relate, Reflect, and Revolve!

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

  1. Identify and explain key concepts and facts about family and its interconnectedness of migration, urbalization and modernization.
  2. Analyze the changes of family formation, childbearing behaviours, and respnsiblity of caring for older adults from a family life cycle approach.
  3. Examine the social and economic implications of family dynamics with reference to the situations of modern China.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

First semester (Wed)

Study Load

Activities Number of hours
Lectures 24
Tutorials 8
Reading / Self-study 40
Assessment: Group project 30
Assessment: Presentation (incl preparation) 20
Assessment: Term paper 30
Total: 152

Assessment: 100% coursework

Assessment Tasks Weighting
Tutorial participation 15
In-class quizzes 15
Group project and presentation 30
Individual assignments 40

Required Reading

Section 1: Introduction to family and development

Section 2: Marriage and family planning policy

Section 3: Families with young children and adolescents

  • Qiao, J., Wang, Y., Li, X., Jiang, F., Zhang, Y., Ma, J., … & Hesketh, T. (2021). A Lancet Commission on 70 years of women’s reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health in China. The Lancet, 397(10293), 2497-2536. From https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32708-2 
  • Sun, X., Tian, Y., Zhang, Y., Xie, X., Heath, M. A., & Zhou, Z. (2015). Psychological development and educational problems of left-behind children in rural China. School Psychology International, 36(3), 227-252. From https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034314566669 

Section 4: Adult employment

Section 5: Aging and elder care I

Section 6: Aging and elder care II

Section 7: Aging and elder care III

  • Roth, D. L., Fredman, L., & Haley, W. E. (2015). Informal caregiving and its impact on health: A reappraisal from population-based studies. The Gerontologist, 55(2), 309-319. From https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu177
  • Zhao, L. (2023). China’s aging population: A review of living arrangement, intergenerational support, and wellbeing. Health Care Science, 2(5), 317-327. From https://doi.org/10.1002/hcs2.64 

Section 8: Gender disparity and feminism

  • Cai, Y., & Feng, W. (2021). The social and sociological consequences of China’s one-child policy. Annual Review of Sociology, 47(1), 587-606. From https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-090220-032839 
  • Gui, T. (2017). “Devalued” daughters versus “appreciated” sons: Gender inequality in China’s parent-organized matchmaking markets. Journal of Family Issues, 38(13), 1923-1948. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X16680012 
  • Zhang, Y., & Hannum, E. (2015). Diverging fortunes: The evolution of gender wage gaps for singles, couples, and parents in China, 1989–2009. Chinese Journal of Sociology, 1(1), 15-55. From https://doi.org/10.1177/2057150X14568769 

Section 9: Special topics

  • Cao, J., Lee, C. Y., Liu, X., & Gonzalez-Guarda, R. M. (2023). Risk and protective factors associated with intimate partner violence against Chinese women: a systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(2), 407-419. From https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380211030235 
  • Qi, Z. (2019). An overview of rural to urban migration in China and social challenges. Migration Letters, 16(2), 273-282. From https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=841659 
  • Zhao, F., Hämäläinen, J. E. A., & Chen, H. L. (2017). Child protection in China: Changing policies and reactions from the field of social work. International journal of social welfare, 26(4), 329-339. From https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12268 

Section 10: Family and development in Hong Kong

Section 11: Family and development in Taiwan and conclusion

Course Co-ordinator and Teacher(s)

Course Co-ordinator Contact
Professor P. Lu
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences		 Tel: 3917 2080
Email: peiyilu@hku.hk
Teacher(s) Contact
Professor P. Lu
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences		 Tel: 3917 2080
Email: peiyilu@hku.hk