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.