GLOBAL CHINA Intimacy

Introduction

  • Overview of the course by Dr. Iris Lo on the topic of families, intimacy, and globalization.

Presentation Structure

  • Format: 30-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A.

  • Weightage: Presentation constitutes 40% of the overall course evaluation.

Group Assignments

  • Defined Groups: Each group consists of various members with specific IDs for identification.

  • Assignment Detail: Each group is tasked with evaluating contemporary family dynamics.

Intended Learning Outcomes

  1. Examine how family lives are evolving due to globalization.

  2. Identify the immediacy of global culture impacts on Chinese society.

  3. Outline steps to conduct a literature review.

Relevance of Studying Changing Intimacy and Families

  • Family as a core component of the human experience (Wilding, 2018).

  • Modern globalization has resulted in complex family forms and dynamics.

  • Individual relationships influenced by larger cultural, social, economic, and political factors.

  • Analyze everyday interactions to uncover larger social systems (Wilding, 2018).

Contemporary Forces Impacting Families

Larger Forces of Change

  • Social-Cultural and Economic Influences:

    • Role of national policies, e.g., welfare provisions, parental leave, childcare support (especially seen in Scandinavian models).

  • Globalization and Migration:

    • Economic disparities and rising living costs.

    • Massive global migration patterns affecting family structures—272 million estimated international migrants as of mid-2019.

  • Historical Contexts:

    • Traditional values such as filial piety impacting family responsibilities.

    • Laws mandating parental obligations pose structural pressures on family definitions (Wilding, 2018).

Definitions and Concepts of Family

The Concept of Family

  • Definitional Variability: Family might mean different things—blood ties versus emotional bonds, committed relationships over legal ones (Wilding, 2018).

  • Traditional vs. modern family structures:

    • Nuclear Family: Most common in earlier social structures.

    • Rise of divorce rates, single-parent families, and cohabitation.

Floating Ties in Family Structures

  • Concept refers to family ties that are adaptable and not strictly defined (Wilding, 2018).

  • Living in dual locations (e.g., due to work) enhances these floating ties, which are increasingly prevalent in the globalization context.

  • Increased reliance on mobile technology to maintain family relationships across borders (Wilding, 2018).

Shifts in Family Practices

Weekend Couple Families

  • New structures where couples live separately during the week due to work commitments, retaining family connections on weekends.

  • Challenges traditional views of cohabitation and shared life.

  • Emphasis on economic strategies and adapting to competitive job markets.

Cultural Changes in Dating and Relationships

'Immediacy' of Modern Global Culture

  • New dating cultures facilitated by digital technology and online dating apps.

  • Trends in how couples meet (e.g., significant increases in online connections over traditional methods).

  • In China, dating app popularity surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a notable increase among Generation Z users.

  • Critical examination of relationships in context of digital transformations and commodification (Wilding, 2018).

Individualization and Modern Relationships

Individualization Thesis

  • Theory suggesting a shift from traditional role constraints towards individual choice in constructing family and relationships (Beck & Beck-Gernsheim, 1995).

  • Gaps in family definitions leading towards increased acceptance of non-traditional households, like single-person and pet-centric families.

Context of Individualism in China

  • Trends in individual happiness prioritization over traditional marital expectations.

  • Increasing acceptance of divorce and alternative lifestyles amid changing societal norms since economic reforms.

Research Methodology

Research Types

  • Primary Research: Involving original data collection from subjects.

  • Secondary Research: Utilizing existing studies without needing ethical approval.

  • Importance of literature review to summarize existing knowledge and identify gaps.

Steps for Literature Review

  1. Research Questions: Focus on clarity and specificity.

  2. Finding Studies: Utilize electronic databases and diverse sources.

  3. Screen Evidence: Remove irrelevant data.

  4. Extract Data: Pull relevant information for analysis.

  5. Analysis and Synthesis: Identify themes and areas of consensus/difference in existing studies.

  6. Reporting Findings: Address what has been learned and the implications for future research.

Closing Thoughts

  • Recognizing diverse realities fostered by globalization can reshape understanding of families.

  • Encouraging critical thinking about how cultural, social, and economic factors influence personal relationships and family dynamics.

Takeaways

  1. Understand the evolving forms of intimacy and family arrangements in a global context, opening opportunities for self-reflection on personal family lives.

  2. Apply the structured steps of literature review effectively in academic writing.