Elderlies and Leisure Life

A study regarding leisure life between rural and urban residents of China focused on the nation's expanding population of elderlies. It found out that elderlies in rural and urban do have differences in involvement and perceptions of leisure life for elderlies. The factors of socioeconomic status matters. Since Chinese economy has been growing in speed and size, the social gap between rural and urban population increased, and inequalities are more pronounced. This of course, affects the many elderlies. Leisure life is vital to elderlies' physical and psychological well-being (Su et al, 2006). Thus, it is important for us to find out how it implies to their lives depending on where they live. 

Rural elderlies still have roles of being caregivers for their children as well as doing housework. They participate less in personal entertainment or activities. Nearly a third's favorite leisure activity is to play with children (Su et al, 2006). The study also shows that only 5.2% of urban elderlies play with children as leisure activity. Seems to me like the rural elderlies adopt a more traditional and family-oriented value and it's reflected through their favorite daily leisure activities.  Rural elderlies are less physically and mentally active compared to urban elderlies. Rural elderlies also travel less, as they usually have less resources for that. SES is also represented by education and income. Rural elderlies have less education attainment and less monthly income, thus they have less flexibility to enjoy leisure activities. Chinese elderlies who are in lower socioeconomic class face discriminatory social security system. Since early in the 1980s, rural elderlies stopped getting financial support from government, and only urban elderlies are covered by social security (Zhou, 2004). Since urban areas usually consist of more infrastructure, education systems, and other advanced institutions, and we can see that as urban life speeds through modernity while rural life seems to not improve much (Su et al, 2006). 

Being elderlies in rural and urban areas sure have its differences, and we can clearly tell which one group is being more advantaged due to socioeconomics. I would encourage the government to boost its support to elderlies in rural areas by building more infrastructures, as well as elderlies' facilities center. This way, elderlies everywhere in China can have a more equal chance for leisure activities' choices. This may improve their well-being as elderlies and age successfully.  

Resources: 

Su, Baoren; Shen, Xiangyou; Zhou, Wei (2006). Journal of Leisure Research: 381-383,385-388,390-397.

Zhou, W. (2004). A historical analysis of the "Five Guarantees" system in China. Exploration, 1, 61-63.

New Patterns of Parents' Coresidence in China

As China's population is aging while the social security system of the nation is underdeveloped, traditional family roles have to take on responsibilities for the wellbeing of elderlies. Elderlies who are retired and have no more additional income source rely on their children for shelter. Due to the changing economic climate, we see parents becoming the subject of children's attention (Zhang, 2004). Supposedly, due to China's modernizing economy, elderlies are predicted to coreside less with their children (Levy, 1949). However, from previous blog posts, we know that Chinese elderlies' population rise up beyond expectations and it is hurting China through several factors. The fact that elderlies' aging population rises while the nation has poor social security system costs adult children the pressure of being responsible in care-taking roles for their parents. 

Zhang's further research on parents coresidence show the pattern of child-centered coresidence during parents' middle life shifting to parent-centered pattern during parents' old life. The emerging class differentials we can find in Chinese society today does play an effect on coresident patterns. Families with higher resources will enjoy better parent-child relationship (Riley, 1994). These families are more open to the intergenerational living arrangements are they have more flexible resources. However, I do believe that if socioeconomic status is becoming the determinant of elderlies' shelter, it wouldn't be fair for those who have less resources. My suggestion is that the government expand and develop its social security system so it could benefit elderlies with lower socio-economic status. 

Resources:
Levy, M. (1949). The family revolution in modern China. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.


Riley, N. (1994). Interwoven lives: Parents, marriage, and guanxi in China. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 56, 791-803.

Zhang, Q. (2004). Economic Transition and New Patterns of Parent-Adult Child Coresidence in Urban China. Journal Of Marriage & Family, 66(5), 1231-1245. 

Two-child policy, and what next?

As we have already learned, China's one-child policy was a very bold and consequential move made by the Communist Party, and it recently announced that the policy is loosened: people are able to have two children instead of just one. However, there are apparent threats from China's own economic structure and its future if the one-child policy is suddenly a two-child policy. 

The problem her seems to be financial: costs of living are rising up and couples are reluctant to spend even bigger portion on their children only. But in truth, many young generation of Chinese couples would rather not have children due to the city's skyrocketing expenses.  

"Let’s say couples do start cranking out more than 1.4 kids. At the absolute earliest, those kids will begin to enter the workforce in 2035. That’s not soon enough. China’s working-age population peaked in 2012 according to official statistics, at 1.0 billion people. In 2025, the (now) 930 million-strong labor force will start shedding 10 million workers a year."  (Guilford, 2013).

This is an absolutely terrifying fact for China. Maybe they are too late to undo what they've done to its population structure. What do you think? 

Resources: 

Guilford, Gwynn. (2013, November 15). Too Late, China Adopt a Two-Child Policy.  QZ. Retrieved November 28, 2013, from www.qz.com 

Lucky Elderlies, Unlucky Elderlies

A global study done by the United Nations discovered that elderlies are going towards an alarming time for them due to a more speedily greying population. For the first time in human history, in 2050, population of elderlies above 60 years old will exceed children below 15 years old. (Gelineau, 2013) This fascinating fact drew my attention, as although I’m more closely studying China, I am curious about what other countries are doing in handling this social issue. I found a loophole that some countries have and don’t: government welfare. The major things we think about when we think of aging population are how to take care of them well. It directly affects economy as taking care of elderlies cost substantial money. If governments are able to provide good welfare that can sustain their lives and if companies all give good pensions, the worry would be much less.

The problem is, China, like many other developing countries, are not providing its elderlies with equal or at least some welfare. These elderlies are worried about their short future, only thinking about what they can do to get through old days. They are scared of being sick, because they don’t know how to afford medical care when they have no pension. Seems like they are constantly worried as they age. Steady economies have proven to be better for elderlies, as the fortunate ones are able to get support groups, good environment, material resources, and fewer worries. However, fortunately, the Chinese government are realizing how big this is of a problem to them as it affects China's society and functions, as well as the economy. It requires a balance of population aging and economic developments, as well as strategies to balance both issues (Zhang, Guo, & Zheng, 2012). 

References:

Gelineau, Kristen. Global Study: World not ready for aging population. Associated Press. Retrieved Nov 14, 2013 from news.yahoo.com. 

Zhang, N., Guo, M., & Zheng, X. (2012). China: Awakening Giant Developing Solutions to Population Aging. Gerontologist, 52(5), 589-596.

Old-Age Support. Who Will Take Care of The Elderlies?

As we know from the previous post, China's one child policy draws the nation and its government to take notice in elderly care. The problem is the lack of government fundings and systems that cause care-taking pressure transferred to the children's lives. In the past, filial piety was a guarantee that elderlies will be taken care of regardless. Now, it's becoming more and more challenging. The next logical step is caring for the elderlies through other institutions, such as nursing homes. It is not just expensive to care for elderlies, but it also troublesome for these children. However, the problem is that many senior citizens aren't open to the idea of being put in nursing homes. The challenge sometimes aren't financial, but family problems coming back to filial piety. Some elderlies are starting to see the benefits of being in nursing homes. Zhang, a resident at a nursing home feels like he belong there more. 
"My children go to work early at 6am and come back home at 6pm. It can get very lonely," he said. "They like to eat at McDonalds, KFC, and other fast food but I don't."

We can tell that elderlies are lonely when they know that they're 'different' from the children. They need a suitable space for them to continue life successfully. 

Aside from the issue of elderlies coping at old age, the government should take notice in its institutions. By building better nursing homes and providing facilities such as health care system for the aged, and establishing social support systems that enables elderlies to have a stronger network of support. They don't have to completely rely on their children. Instead, they can look for support from friendships with other elders. 

Yoon, Eunice. "How China's One-child Policy Hurts the Elderly." CNBC. N.p., 22 Oct. 2013. Web.

The 4-2-1 Family and The Surplus of Men

An important concern of China’s family structure is the overwhelming pressure from grandparents (over 60 years old) to their children and single grandchild. It is called the 4-2-1 families, and it consists of 4 grandparents, 2 adult children who are single-childs themselves, and their one child. 

According to studies of this family structure, these children amounted to 150 million heads by the end of 2007. The fact that there are so many only-childs bring rise to some social issues, which include population reproduction, sex ratio, population aging, and old-age support (Jiang, 2011). This post will talk about the implications of sex ratio to China as a society while the next post will cover old-age support. 
Sex ratio plays a key role in reproduction of a population. In China, since couples are only allowed to have one child, they prefer male over female child. This is due to the cultural value of patriarchy: people see females are inferior to males. People will do whatever they can to have a baby boy, whether it's infanticide or abortion. China has 32 million more males than females. The implications include:

• Increase in violence due to men's frustration of not having females around, crime rate goes up. 
• Increase in men engaging in prostitution, wealthier men may buy or bid for wives.
• Men find difficulties finding wives, difficulty in creating offspring and creating family line. 
• While in this frustration, they have to remember they're the '1' in the '4-2-1' structure, which means they will more likely go through it alone. 

This gender imbalance is a social issue, and it will become worse and worse in the future as China's gender becomes more and more patriarchal. The fortunate ones can have wives and children, but what about those who don't? 

Reference:

Jiang, Q., & Sánchez-Barricarte, J. (2011). The 4-2-1 family structure in China: a survival analysis based on life tables. European Journal Of Ageing, 8(2), 119-127.

Xie BG (2000) The essence of Chinese filial piety. Shanghai

Academy Social Science Press, Shangha

Where Did My Children Go?

The Chinese cultural system of filial piety has been extremely strong. The people of China follow the Confucian ideology that highly regards loyalty and complete devotion form children to parents. Children are expected to make sacrifices for their parents, and financial responsibilities are almost considered a given. These expectations were written down, with Confucius and his disciple as the main contributors. These examples of filial piety that had been children’s first textbook in China until the 20^th century basically talk about sacrifice and endless contributions. (Sartor, 2011).

However, in the present day, filial piety hasn’t been performed to its cultural standards, and I suspect that it’s due to the over-pressured single-childs having to support the expanding aging population. Parents in China nowadays have the right to sue their children if they feel neglected or mistreated (Chou, 2011).  Under the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly that came into effect July 1^st 2013, children can be liable for neglect and can be subject to being sued. Some laws include visiting parents often, be concerned about parents’ spiritual needs, and not ignoring or neglecting them (Hou, 2013). Filial piety can now be purchased. Entrepreneurs actually sell their services to regularly visit your parents. A 2-day service with videos to ensure visit quality costs about $250/day (Xi, 2013). I find it ironic how something that was a cultural value that’s ingrained in the society can turn into a duty that’s regulated by law. Many blame the one-child policy for this, what do you think?

  

Resource:

Zhan, H. (2013). Population Aging and Long-Term Care in China. Generations, 37(1), 53-58.

Hou, Jian Jun (2013). "China Sees First Violation of Filial Piety Law." All-China Women's Federation. Women of China,Web. 26 Sept. 2013.

Xi, Sun (2013). "Shopping for Filial Piety Online." All-China Women's Federation. Women of China,Web. 26 Sept. 2013.

Sartor, V. (2011). Filial Piety and Confucius. Beijing Review, 54(25), 48.

Chou, R. (2011). Filial Piety by Contract? The Emergence, Implementation, and Implications of the “Family Support Agreement” in China. Gerontologist, 51(1). 3-16.