Ageing in Rural China: Exploring the Impact of Rural-Urban Migration on Familial Support for Older People
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Abstract
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Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jieyu Liu (Principal Investigator) | |
| Joanne Cook (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Cook J
(2016)
Can 'distant water quench the instant thirst'? The renegotiation of familial support in rural China in the face of extensive out migration.
in Journal of aging studies
Liu J
(2016)
Ageing in rural China: migration and care circulation
in The Journal of Chinese Sociology
Liu J
(2014)
Ageing, migration and familial support in rural China
in Geoforum
Liu J
(2016)
Intimacy and Intergenerational Relations in Rural China
in Sociology
Liu J
(2018)
Ageing and intergenerational care in rural China: a qualitative study of policy development
in Contemporary Social Science
| Description | A key aim was to examine the extent to which rural-urban migration has reshaped expectations and experiences of familial support in old age. This research has furthered academic understanding in four major respects. First, it addresses debates on modernisation, ageing and intergenerational support in developing/emerging economies. Modernisation theory points to the threats to elder support posed by migration, urbanisation and increased individualisation within emerging nuclear family units. We show that while modernisation theory raises important concerns, these approaches risk overplaying the demise of support, underestimating the role of culture and under-examining the important role of older people as providiers of support to their families. Second, it adds to the emerging global literature on migration and 'care' at a distance and proposes a gendered and intergenerational approach to the study of Chinese rural ageing. To fully understand the changes in familial support it is essential to analyse gender and generational hierarchies embedded in filial piety which result in older women experiencing the most significant changes. Third, as one of the research villages was included in China's first pilot pension scheme, the study is among the very first to examine the household-effects of the state's recent move towards encouraging a mixed welfare provision in rural China. We argue that the familialization approach embedded in state social policies failed to consider rural-urban segregation and the under developed rural economy and infrastructure, leaving in tact gendered inequalities embedded in familial support systems which allow the state and market to reap the benefits of older women's unpaid labour. Fourth, as existing literature on rural ageing is mostly based on survey data, our ethnographic research has made a methodlogical contribution, providing invaluable qualitative data on the agency and dynamics of rural households in China. |
| Exploitation Route | Findings have been presented at various workshops and conferences involving audiences in a wide range of disciplines including Sociology, Social Gerontology, Social Policy, Geography and Area and Development Studies (as reflected in our publications). Our research findings have reached a large international audience. In particular, as Dr Liu is fluent in Chinese, the research findings have been presented in China, through seminars at Peking University, Chinese University of Hong Kong and Zhejiang University. Feedback has been very good; there are around 150 citations of the written outputs of this project. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare |
| Description | The research has been disseminated to a wider public audience including government bodies, charities, NGOs and media outlets as outlined above. Specific groups are as follows. China-based groups: • Villagers in two villages: the interviews conducted by Dr Liu were welcomed particularly by the older generation as the occasion itself was empowering in that it gave the older people an oppportunitity to talk about themselves. A summary of the research findings had also been explained by Dr Liu in Chinese. As the literacy level was relatively low in rural China, the summary was verbally delivered. • Officers in the research villages: throughout the whole period of fieldwork, Dr Liu had communicated with village administrative officers in an attempt to convey the needs and concerns of older residents and discuss possible solutions. Although it can be difficult sometimes in communications, such feedback was welcomed by some local officers. • Chinese academics: as Chinese academics were often consulted by policymakers in China, on-going dialogue established with them had the potential to impact upon future policymaking in China. Uk-based groups include: HelpAge International, Leeds Oxfam Gender Inequalities Discussion Group, Asia Pacific Research Group at Foreign and Commonwealth Office. General English-speaking public: Due to the increasing interest on the social impact of economic changes in China, Dr Liu has been often invited to contribute to such debates by various media outlets. On these occasions, she has provided an up-to-date knowledge and sometimes corrected Western stereotypes towards Chinese families and gender relations. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Ageing and Migration in Rural China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | |
| Results and Impact | The talk examined the ageing situation in China and how Chinese rural households are adapting to the rural-urban migration. Through analysis of family histories, the talk highlighted the changing roles of daughters in rural households. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | |
| Description | Ageing and familial support in rural China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | |
| Results and Impact | This talk examined the resilience of rural households and the changing roles of daughters under the context of rural-urban migration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | |
| Description | Ageing in Rural China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Detailed examination of existing state policies. The briefing will be sent out to overseas posts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The briefing will be sent out to overseas posts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Ageing in rural China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | |
| Results and Impact | It detailed the findings from the project, including three aspects: intergenerational relations, gender relations and the experiences of ageing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | |
| Description | Ageing, Migration and Intergenerational Relations in Rural China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Liu, Jieyu (2014) 'Ageing, Migration and Intergenerational Relations in Rural China.' Discovery Society [Online] (12). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://discoversociety.org/2014/09/02/ageing-migration-and-intergenerational-relations-in-rural-chin... |
| Description | An Age-Old Question |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I published an article on population ageing in China-Britain Business Council Magazine, Focus (48):6-7. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Comments on China's new move to change retirement policy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I have published an article (in Chinese) on BBC Chinese column, commenting on recent Chinese government's plan to postpone retirement age. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/10/151026_cr_china_retirement_age |
| Description | Gender imbalance in China: Boys vs girls |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Explained the preference of boys in China and the changing roles of daughters in rural communities Section not completed |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Gender inequalities in rural China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The talk examined the gender inequalities in rural communities, highlighting the division of labour by gender and the continuing preference of sons. Section not completed |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Newspaper interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed about the demographic crisis in China. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-population-crisis-new-two-child-policy-fails-yield-major-n71... |
| Description | Population Ageing in China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On 14 October 2015, I was interviewed by Beijing Radio International on population ageing in China |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://english.cri.cn/7146/2015/10/15/3621s899633.htm |