"What Did She Say?" Intergenerational Differences Of Filial Obligation in an Urban Area of Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract

Filial obligation, a central concept in Confucianism describes how children should treat their parents. In traditional Chinese society, older adults become fully dependent on their children later in life. However, recent studies have shown that the concept of traditional filial obligation is undergoing significant change due to rapid economic and demographic development. Through in-depth interviews with 27 women from 9 families in the city of Hulunbeier, China and a refined filial scale at the end of each interview, this study compared intergenerational differences among three generations: the older generation (G1), the Chinese baby boomer generation (G2), and the one-child generation (G3). Intergenerational differences of filial obligation were explored in regard to definition and practice. Applying a grounded theory approach, I found that the concept of filial obligation is changing: among those respondents, the focus of filial obligation has shifted from material support to emotional support; parents now prefer their daughters as opposed to their sons to care for them; although previous research suggested that obedience has gradually lost its importance, my study suggests obedience still exerts strong influence in the practice of filial obligation.