Marital power, spousal relationship, and intergenerational ...

Emotion has a critical influence in the field of family. The spousal relationship can substantially modify and integrate the husband's and ... Skiptomaincontent Advertisement SearchallSpringerOpenarticles Search Maritalpower,spousalrelationship,andintergenerationalsupport DownloadPDF DownloadPDF Research OpenAccess Published:08October2018 Maritalpower,spousalrelationship,andintergenerationalsupport DandanZheng1&JinhuaDi2  TheJournalofChineseSociology volume 5,Article number: 14(2018) Citethisarticle 2621Accesses 2Citations Metricsdetails AbstractThispaperexplorestheeffectofmaritalpowerdistributionandthespousalrelationshiponfamilyintergenerationalsupporttoolderparentsusingCGSS2006data.Thefindingsincludethefollowing:(1)themorepowerthewifehas,thelesseconomicsupportthefamilyprobablygivestothepaternalparents;(2)thespousalrelationshipcontributestobothpaternalandmaternalintergenerationaleconomicsupporttoolderparents;and(3)thespousalrelationshipcanmediatetheeffectofmaritalpowerdistributiononpaternaleconomicsupport.Thebetterrelationshipthecouplehas,thelessmaritalpoweraffectseconomicsupporttothepaternalparents.Themechanismofmaternalsupportrequiresfurtherexploration. “Puttingthewifebeforethemother”:aquestionworthaskingThesaying“Affectionatefatherandfilialson,”symbolizedakindofmoralprinciple,supportingparentinginthetraditionalChinesefamilyandshapingadultoffspring’ssupportoftheirparents.However,inrecentdecades,problemshaveariseninthismodelofelderlycare.First,someagingparentsreceivelittlerespectandcarefromtheiradultchildren,eventhoughthesechildrenprovideeconomicsupport.Second,agingparentsobtainsupportingresourcesfromtheiradultchildrenbutonlyatthecostof“makingcontributionstotheiradultchildren”,suchastakingcareofagrandchildordoingchores.Ifthesecontributionsarenotmadeadultchildrencanjustifyreducingtheirsupportofagingparents(Chen1998;Guo2001;Li2010).Somescholarsclaimthatthesechallengestotraditionalfamilysupportaresymbolsofthedistortionanddecayoftraditionalfilialpiety(Yan2006;Shen2007a,2007b).Atthemacrostructurallevel,themodernizationtheoryoffamilycantheoreticallyexplainthesechallenges.Withthemodernizationofsociety,extendedkinshipgraduallyweakensandthestructureofthetraditionalfamilybreaksup,resultingintheerosionofintergenerationalcohesion,especiallybetweenparentsandchildren(Goode1963).Atthemicrodynamiclevel,manyresearchersattributethesechallengestotheriseoftheyoungergenerationwithinthefamily.Undertheseconditions,thespousalrelationshipreplacestheintergenerationalrelationshipasthenewaxisofthefamily;inotherwords,“puttingthewifebeforethemother.”Inthesemicrodynamicanalyses,thefactthatthe“daughter-in-lawrulestheroost”isthekeyfactor.Ingeneral,peoplebelievethatinrulingtheroost,thedaughter-in-lawwillprioritizetheinterestsofher“littlefamily”ratherthanconsideringtheneedsofthe“mother.”Sometimes,theneedsofthehusband’sagingparentsareneglected.Althoughempiricalevidenceoftenconfirmstheaboveexplanationofpriority(He1995;Yan2006;GuiandJia2010;ZhangandCao2016),themechanismbehinditisworthanalyzing.Whenresearchersattributethelackofsupportforagingparentstosons’marriages,theyimplythatinthissituationdaughters-in-lawaremorallyreprehensible.Explicitlyorimplicitly,theymorallyobjecttotheriseofwomen’spositionwithintheChinesefamily.However,moralcondemnationcannotreplaceacademicanalysis.Itisstillunclearwhethertheriseofthedaughter-in-lawwithinthefamilyaffectsintergenerationalsupport,orhowitimpactsfamilialsupporttoagingparents.Thispaperaddressesthesequestions.Ethicsandrationalism:twoapproachestostudyingintergenerationalinteractionintheChinesefamilyExceptforcertainperiodsinhistory,thefamilyisalwaysthemostfundamentallifeunitforhumanbeings.Academiahasconstantlydebatedanddiscussedwhypeopleformfamiliesandhowtheyinteractwithinfamilies,butrarelyreachuniversalanswers.Atonepoleoftheseacademicdiscussions,somescholarsconsiderthefamilytobeamoralcommunityinwhichpeopleinteractwitheachotheraccordingtoethics.Attheotherpole,someresearchersbelievethatthefamilyisanorganizationformedbytherationalcalculationofeveryindividualinwhichpeoplerationallyexaminetheirstatusandinterestsandformstrategiestomaximizeself-interest.Thesetwodifferentanalyticalapproachesinfamilystudiescanbesummarizedastheparadigmofethicsandtheparadigmofrationalism,andhavevitalinfluenceonstudiesofintergenerationalinteractionintheChinesefamily.StudiesonintergenerationalinteractionintheparadigmofethicsTheparadigmofethicsderivesfromdiscussionsoftraditionalChinesesociety(Zheng1992;Weber2008)asa“family-stateisomorphism.”Thusethicsbecomethecriticalfactorforresearcherstocomprehendandanalyzethetraditionalfamilyrelationship,especiallytheintergenerationalrelationship,inChina.ResearcherswhoadopttheparadigmofethicsbelievethattheChinesefamilyisamoralcommunityinwhichaltruismandethicspowerfullyshapeandregulateindividualbehavior(Liang2005;Tan2010).Intheparadigmofethics,scholarsfurtherdeveloptwoanalyticalapproachesbasedondifferentresearchpurportandlogic-institutionalismandsocioculturalism.Theanalyticalapproachofinstitutionalismemphasizesthatinstitutionsprovidestructuralsupporttoethics,andhowinstitutionsaredependentonethics.Itsfocalissueishowethicsareimplementedinruralsocietyandthetraditionalfamilyunderthe“strongrestriction”ofinstitutionalstructures.Thisapproacharguesthatpatrilineality,male-centeredfamilialrightsandduties,andpatriarchyarethecoresoftraditionalChinesekinshipandfamilyrelationships(Li2010).ResearcherseitherutilizetheethicsofConfucianism(e.g.,filialpiety,chastity,ancestorworship)toexaminethescope,hierarchy,andprinciplesoffamilyrelationships,orconsiderthegroupbasedonpatrilinealityasakindofsocialorganization.Inthissense,thepatriarchalfamilyisextendedtothepatriarchalclan,whoseorganizationalprinciplesandformsfurtherserveasthestructuralbasesofChinesesociety(Yan2012).Differentfromtheinstitutionalismapproach,socioculturalismarguesthatindividualsgraduallyacquiresocialethicsintheirprocessofsocialization,andfinallyinternalizethesesocialethicsaspersonalcodesofconduct.Withthehelpoftheinternalizationofethics,theinteractionsamongfamilymembersareselflessandaltruistic.Ontheonehand,familymembersfeelobligatedtosupportotherfamilymemberswhocannotworkortakecareofthemselves,eventhoughthissupportcannotbedirectlyrewarded.Thesesupportersconsiderthemselvestobebeneficiariesaswell,sincetheexistenceandwell-beingofotherfamilymembersarevitalforthefamily’swell-beingasawhole(ZimmerandDayton2005).Ontheotherhand,familymembersarealwaysinclinedtodecreaseconsumptioninordertobenefitothers,especiallywhenthefamilyhasfewresources.Footnote1TheparadigmofethicsisalsoapplicableinexplainingfamilyintergenerationalinteractionincontemporaryChina.Accordingtotheparadigmofethics,socialstructuraltransformationinChinahasalreadychangedpaternity-centeredfamilycultureandtheethicssystem,whichareembodiedinthereciprocalmodelandtheintergenerationalrelationshipof“affectionatefatherandfilialson”(Tangetal.2009).Socialstructuraltransformationhasthusinfluencedintergenerationalinteractionandresourceallocationwithinthefamily.Twodifferenttheoreticalexplanationshavebeendevelopedtoexplaintherootcauseofthesephenomenaandinterprettheethicalimplicationsofthesetransformations—“ethicallapse”(Yan2006)and“ethicalchange”(DiandZheng2016).Theethicallapseexplanationisbasedonthemodernizationtheoryofthefamily,emphasizingthatindustrializationandmodernizationengendernuclearizationoffamilyrelationships.Occupationalmobilityenlargesthegeographicaldistanceandsocialgapamongrelatives.Socialwelfareandinsurancedecreaseindividualdependencyonkinshipnetworks.Meanwhile,economicdevelopmentandmodernizationunderminetraditionalmoralcodessuchasfilialpiety,reducingadultchildren’swillingnesstotakecareofagingparents(ChenandKorinek2010).Yetthoseusingtheapproachofethicalchangearenotconvincedtoaccepttheclaimofethicallapsebasedonthephenomenondescribedabove,thoughtheintergenerationalinteractionpatternincontemporaryChinesefamiliesisdistinctfromandsometimesopposedtotraditionalConfucianethics,especiallytheethicalprinciplesrepeatedinConfucianclassics.Therecentapproachof“favorflowsdownstream”(恩往下流)inChinesefamiliesandtheinadequatesupportingresourcesgiventotheoldergenerationaresimplyconsequencesoftheethicalchangefrom“seniorpriority”to“juniorpriority”(DiandZheng2016).Althoughtheexplanationsofethicallapseandethicalchangearedifferentintheirestimationandanalysisofempiricalphenomenon,boththeoriesarederivedfromtheparadigmofethics.WhatdifferentiatesethicallapseisthatinitsexplanationofChinesefamily’sstatusquo,previousethicalcodesdisintegrateandlapseintheprocessoffamilymodernization.StudiesonintergenerationalinteractionintheparadigmofrationalismIncontrasttotheparadigmofethicsdefiningfamilymembersasaltruistsandmoralmodels,studiesintheparadigmofrationalismfocusontherationalityembeddedinintergenerationalrelationships.ThemostinfluentialtheoryintheparadigmofrationalismaboutChinesefamilialintergenerationalrelationshipisthecorporatemodel.Inthecorporatemodel,Chinesefamiliesareeconomicunitscomposedofcompletelyrationalandself-interestedmembers.Sharedpropertyinthefamilyistheprimaryleveragetosuperviseandregulateeachmember.Asasortofoperationalunitwithinherenceandflexibility,theChinesefamilycanmobilizehumanpowerandmaterialresourcestotheutmostextentandmakethebestuseofexternalopportunities.Inthecorporatemodel,differentformsandconstantchangesoffamilystructurearetheconsequencesoffamilialcooperationthatiseconomicallyoriented(Yan2006),targetingthemaximizationoffamilyinterests.Thecorporatemodelwasoriginallyappliedtounderstandpatrimonialsystemandhouseholdproduction.Itsinfluencelaterspreadtodiscussionsofuxorilocalmarriage(招赘婚),homogeneousmarriage,residence,andhousedivision(Luo2004;Lietal.2002).Developedfromthecorporatemodelthatemphasizestherationalizationoffamilymembers,Wolf(1972)proposestheconceptofthe“uterinefamily”basedonherobservationoffamilyrelationshipsinTaiwan.Wolfsuggeststhatthedaughter-in-law,whoisoriginallythealieninherhusband’sfamily,doesnotalwayspassivelyacceptherfateinthetraditionalfamily.Shedeliberatelyformsacliquewithhersons,cultivatingacloserelationshipbetweenhersonsandherselfsoastoacquirefamilypowerandensurelifequalitywhensheisold.InWolf’sanalysis,theuterinefamilyistheproductofrationalbehaviorchosenbyfemalefamilymembers.Undertheparadigmofrationalism,scholarsoftenregardintergenerationalinteractionasakindofexchangerelationship.Essentially,intergenerationalrelationshipsintheChinesefamilyareanexchangeintheformofparentingandreciprocation.Intergenerationalinteractionsandparent-childdynamicscontainnotonlythetangibleexchangeofmaterialsandeconomicresourcesbutalsotheintangibleexchangeofaffectionandsymbols(Guo2001).Inthissense,intergenerationalinteractionisutilitarianinthatthequantityandqualityofexchangeableresourcespossessedbyparentandchildrendirectlydefinetheirstatusinthefamily.InthecaseoffamilialsupportincontemporaryChina,thisparadigmisactuallyevidencedbyalargeamountofdata.Directcausalityisfoundbetweenparentalinvestmentinchildrenandchildren’sreciprocalsupporttoagingparents(Chen1998).Thegreaterthecontributionthatparentsmaketotheiradultchild’snewfamily,themoreeasilytheyreceivesupportfromtheiroffspring(Dietal.2013).Althoughtheparadigmsofethicsandrationalismaredistinctfromeachotherintermsofanalyticalperspective,theyshareanassumptionregardingthehomogeneityofbehaviorchoiceamongfamilymembers.Tobespecific,theparadigmofethicsconsidersfamilymembersasanintegralunitandfocusesonitsstructure,includinginstitutionalstructureandsocioculturalstructure.Ithighlightshowstructuresshapeandregulatefamilymembers,everyfamilymemberisdisciplinedbymoralcodes,andtheirchosenbehavioriscoincidentwithacquiredmoralcodes.Theparadigmofrationalismassumesasinglerouteofafamilymember’sbehaviorchoiceinitsimplicitbeliefinrationalcalculation.Thisparadigm,whichfocusesonbehavioralstrategies,considersfamilymemberstobesingleandrationalindividuals,andemphasizestheirstrategicbehaviorchoiceintheprocessofintergenerationalinteraction.Eithertheparadigmofethicsortheparadigmofrationalismimpliesthehomogeneityoffamilymembers’behaviorchoice—intheparadigmofethics,familymembersareallmoralcodefollowers,andintheparadigmofrationalism,theyareallcalculativepeople.Thediversityofindividualbehavior,especiallytheperspectiveandagencyofwomen,isneglectedintheexistingliterature.AcomparisonoftheparadigmofethicsandrationalismintheintergenerationalinteractionoftheChinesefamilyrevealsthatthetwoparadigmshavedifferentexplanatorypowertoanalyzefamiliesofdifferenterasduetotheirdistinctfocuses.Forinstance,ethicshaveastrongimpactonindividuallifeintraditionalChinawhentheparadigmofrationalismcanhardlydemonstrateitsexplanatorypower.Withthesocialtransformationandchallengesofconsumerism,however,theinstrumentalrationalityofeverysinglepersongraduallydominatestheintergenerationalinteractioninthefamily,strengtheningtheexplanatorypoweroftheparadigmofrationalism.Inthissense,thispaperadoptstheparadigmofrationalismtodeveloptheacademicexplorationofintergenerationalinteractionintheChinesefamily.Itisworthnotingthatthestudyoftheuterinefamilyisanexceptionintheexistingliteraturesinceitbringstheperspectiveofgenderintotheparadigmofrationalismandpointsoutthatfemalefamilymembersmayhavedifferentbehaviorlogicandinterestappealfrommalefamilymembersorthewholefamily.Therefore,thegenderperspectiveisvitaltocomprehendingresourceallocationintheChinesefamily.However,thestudyoftheuterinefamilydoesnotprovidethoroughreflectiononhowyoungwomenimpactresourceallocationinthefamily.ThisgapisamplifiedinthecontemporarystructuretransformationoftheChinesefamily.Asearlyasthelatenineteenthcentury,“familyrevolution”(freedomofmarriageandfamilynuclearization)emergedinChina.ThevictoryofCommunisminChinabecamethedividingpointintherevolutionoftheChinesefamilyrevolution(Levy1968;Yang1959),inwhichthesuccessofthesocialistgovernmentanditssocialisttransformationchallengedoroverthrewthepatriarchyand“seniorauthority”(WhyteandParish1984).Withtheincreaseofthefemaleemploymentparticipationrateinnonagriculturalindustries(Jin1998;Xiao2002)andwomen’sadvancedcapacityfornegotiationinthemarriagemarket(Yan2006),women’srolesinthefamilyincreased,andmoreandmorestudieshavepaidattentiontowomen’sinfluencewithinthefamily(YangandShen2000).Asfamilymembersbecameawareofindividualsubjectivityandrationalization,itisnecessaryandpressingtocombinethegenderperspectiveandtheparadigmofrationalismtofurtherexistingdiscussionofintergenerationalinteractionintheChinesefamily.Thispaperdevelopsthediscussioninthiscombineddirection.TheoreticalframeworkandresearchhypothesisThereciprocalmodel:theholisticperspectivevs.theindividualperspectiveInChinesefamilies,themostfundamentalpatternofthemanifestationofintergenerationalinteractionisparentingandsupport.Fei(1983)conceptualizesthe“parenting-supporting”relationinChinesefamilyasthe“reciprocalmodel”inwhichparentstakecareoftheirunderagechildren,thenlaterreceivesupportwhentheyaregettingoldandtheirchildrenareadults(seeFig. 1).Itisworthnotingthatthereciprocalmodelimpliesapreconditionthatisnormallyoverlooked.Thehusbandandwifeareregardedasawholefamily—familyF2receivesparentingfromfamilyF1asawholefamily,andthusfamilyF2needstoreciprocallysupportfamilyF1asanintegralunitaswell.Thispapercallsthismodelthereciprocalmodelfromtheholisticperspective.Fei’sdiscussionofintergenerationalinteractionandexchangeisembeddedintherelationshipbetweentwosuccessivegenerations(F1–F2).Footnote2Thestudyoftheuterinefamilychallengesanddevelopsthereciprocalmodelfromtheholisticperspectiveinthatthefamilyisfarfromanabsolutecommunityofinterest;itmaythusbebiasedtousetheholisticperspectivetounderstandresourceallocationwithinthefamily.Moreover,itiscriticaltogobeyondthescopeoftherelationshipbetweentwosuccessivegenerationsanddiscussfamilyresourceallocationinathree-generationlinkage.Footnote3Theconceptoftheuterinefamilyandtheindividualperspectiveconstituteagenderedapproachtoexaminefamilysupport.Thisgenderedapproachdisclosestheactualreciprocalmodel(seeFig. 2).ThecoupleinfamilyF1cooperateswitheachothertoreartheirson(themaninfamilyF2).Whenthesongrowsupandformshisownfamily(familyF2),heandhiswifereartheirson(themaninfamilyF3)asaunit,Footnote4thenreciprocallytakecareoftheagingfamilyF1tofulfilltheirsupportobligation.Thispapernamesthismodelthereciprocalmodelfromtheindividualperspective.Inthisreciprocalmodel,familyF2isrequiredtonotonlysupportfamilyF1butalsoparentthesonoffamilyF3.Inotherwords,familyF2hasto“parenttheirparentsalongwiththeirchildren”(上有老下有小).Familyresourcesareallocatedamongthreegenerations.ThewifeinfamilyF2hasneverbeentakencareofbyfamilyF1directly,butisstillrequiredtofulfilltheobligationtosupportfamilyF1alongwithherhusband.Asacompletelyrationalindividual,thewifeinfamilyF2willbewillingtoinvestlimitedfamilyresources(orthemajorityoffamilyresources)inherownchildrenbecauseshecandependonherchildreninthefuture.Shemayalsobeinclinedtodistributeresourcestoherownparentsifpossible,insteadofherparents-in-lawwhoarenotbloodrelationsnortookcareofher.Thereforeinthefamilyinteractionorintergenerationalresourceallocation,thethoughtsandbehaviorchoiceofthewifeinfamilyF2arevital.InthetraditionalChinesefamily,thepatriarchalcultureconcealedwomen’srolestotheutmostextent.The“seniorpriority”principleofresourceallocationthusprevailed,andmaternalintergenerationalsupportwasgenerallyrestrained.Whenthepatriarchalculturewassignificantlychallengedandwomen’sstatusgreatlyimprovedincontemporaryChina,theprinciplesandpracticeofintergenerationalresourceallocationunderwenttransformation,anissuethatisworthexploring.Fig.1ThereciprocalmodelfromholisticperspectiveFullsizeimageFig.2ThereciprocalmodelfromindividualperspectiveFullsizeimageWiththeabovereview,thispaperaddressesthemaritalpowerofthewifeinfamilyF2asanimportantvariable,affectingthedecisionsofresourceallocation.Thispaperexamineswhetherandhowthewife’smaritalpoweraffectstheallocationoffamilyresources,andhowotherfactorsspecificallyrestrictorshapethisinfluence.Theidentificationof“ourfamily”andfamilyresourceallocationAdoptingthereciprocalmodelfromtheindividualperspective,thispaperemphasizesthatthespousalpowerstructurehasaninfluenceonresourceallocation.Incontrasttoexistingliteraturethatneglectswomen’sroleandinfluenceinfamilyresourceallocation,oneofthispaper’scontributionsisto“bringwomenbackin”,revealingthemechanismofmaritalpowerinfamilyresourceallocation.Theidentificationof“ourfamily”isacorefactorintheanalysis.Generallyspeaking,subjectiveperceptionoftenshapesindividualbehaviorchoice.AsWolfpointsoutinherstudyoftheuterinefamily,women’sidentificationof“ourfamily”isthebasisoftheirdecisionsinfamilyresourceallocation.Essentially,theidentificationof“ourfamily”isaprojectionofSchütz’ssenseofselfinthefieldoffamily.Schützpointsoutthat,“thewide-awakemanwithinthenaturalattitudeisprimarilyinterestedinthatsectoroftheworldofhiseverydaylifewhichiswithinhisscopeandwhichiscenteredinspaceandtimearoundhimself”(Schutz,2001:222).Itseemsthatwithinthenaturalattitude,everyonelivesinhis/herenvironmentbasedonhis/hersensation.Itisalmosthumannatureforpeopletoconcernhimself/herselfwiththeirspouse,child,parents,andrelativeswithwhomtheyhavealong-termrelationshipandwhoformthebasicpartofhis/herworld.Therefore,asthemotivationforfamilymemberstoallocateresources,“ourfamily”isnotacompletelyobjectivefactor.Instead,itissubjectivelyconstructed,beingshapedandregulatedbyinstitutionalcultureandsocialstructureoutsidethefamily.Forinstance,intraditionalChina,awomanoftenconstructedherlifeworldaroundherhusband’snatalfamilyratherthanaroundherselfaftermarriage.Inthisperception,“ourfamily”wasanextendedfamilyformedbyparents-in-law(sometimesevenincludingthehusband’sbrothers)andthewife’schildren.Footnote5Theargumentofthispaper,andalsothesignificanceofthispaper,isderivedfromWolf’sstudyoftheuterinefamily.Footnote6Daughters-in-lawaremotivatedtoconstruct“ourfamily.”Thiskindofmotivationdoesnotnecessarilyinducepractice,whichisrestrainedbyaseriesofconditionandstructure.Thefollowingsectiondiscussessomerestrainingfactors.Powermechanism:maritalpowervs.familyresourceallocationAsdiscussedabove,youngdaughters-in-lawarealwayswillingtoconstruct“ourfamily,”butthetraditionalpatriarchalfamilygenerallysuppressesherwillingness.Onemajorreasonforthissuppressionisthatwomenhavelimitedrightstocontrollingfamilyresources.Themismatchofthestrongwillingnessandlimitedpowerhinderswomen’seffortsinconstructing“ourfamily,”anddeterminestheirdependencyonhusbandsandtheirobligationtosupporttheirparents-in-law.Withthetransformationofthesocialstructureandincreaseinwomen’sparticipationinpaidemployment,women’spositioninthefamilyhasbeenimproved.Thishastransformedthepreviousrestrainedconditionsoffamilyresourceallocationandthusbasedwomen’swillingnesstoconstruct“ourfamily”onamore-substantialfoundation.Thispaperthussuggeststhefollowingresearchhypothesis:Hypothesis1:ThemaritalpowerofwomenimpactstheallocationoffamilysupportresourcesWomen’sparticipationinsociallife,theirimprovedstatusinthefamily,andtheiradvancedautonomymakewomenmoreandmorepowerfulinfamilydecisionmaking.Thewifemayconsiderherhusband,child,andparentsasmembersof“ourfamily”butexcludeherparents-in-law.Underthiscircumstance,theadvancementofwomen’sfamilypowermayleadtothedecreaseofsupportresourcesfrom“ourfamily”toherhusband’sfamily.ThispaperthussuggestsHypothesis1a.Hypothesis1a:Ceterisparibus,themorepowerfulwivesareinfamilydecision-making,thelesssupportresourcesareallocatedtoherparents-in-lawInthetraditionalpatriarchalfamily,sonsratherthandaughtersareresponsiblefortakingcareofagingparents.Theresponsibilityandobligationofintergenerationalsupportaremorecloselyrelatedtogenerationalinheritanceinthepatriarchalfamilythanthereturnofloveoraffection(Shiga2003;Cheng2006;Tangetal.2009).Underthisinstitutionalrestriction,malefamilymembers(sons)areresponsibleforsupportinghisparents.Thisisbothaneconomicresponsibilityandamoralobligation.Incontrast,femalefamilymembers(daughters)arenotrequiredtocareforheragingparentsinthepatriarchalfamily.Asdependentactorsontheirhusbands,theyareassignedtheresponsibilityoftakingcareofherparents-in-law(Dietal.2013).Afterthecollapseofthetraditionalpatriarchalfamily,awomanismorelikelytoidentifyherparents(maternalparents)asmembersof“ourfamily”andisstronglymotivatedtorepayherparents’careand“befilial.”Meanwhile,herpowerhasbeenstrengthenedinthenuclearfamily,whichensurestheachievabilityofhermotivationtorepayandbefilial.ThispaperthereforesuggestsHypothesis1b:Hypothesis1b:Ceterisparibus,themorepowerfulwivesareinfamilydecisionmaking,themoresupportresourcesareallocatedtoher(maternal)parentsTheempathymechanism:thespousalrelationshipvs.familyresourceallocationWiththeadvancementofpowerinthefamily,womenwillallocatefamilyresourcestopaternalparentsandmaternalparentsaccordingtothesamekeymechanism,whichisdistributingfamilyresourcestomembersof“ourfamily.”Whetherawomanidentifiespaternalparentsormaternalparentsasmembersof“ourfamily”determinesherresourceprovision/allocationdecisions.Inthissense,thequalityofthespousalrelationshipdetermineswhetherthecouplecanempathizewitheachothertoconsiderparents-in-lawasmembersof“ourfamily”andmakefamilydecisionsfromthespouse’spointofview.HencethispapersuggestsHypothesis2:Hypothesis2:ThespousalrelationshipimpactstheallocationoffamilyresourcesWhetherthecoupleconsidersparents-in-lawasmembersof“ourfamily”directlydeterminestheirprovisionandallocationoffamilysupportresources.Acriticalfactoroftheirperceptionisthequalityofthespousalrelationship.Inotherwords,thequalityofthespousalrelationshipinfluencesempathyandidentificationof“ourfamily”determineswhetherthecoupleconsidersparents-in-lawasmembersof“ourfamily”andconsequentlyhowtheyallocatefamilyresources.Thispaperthussuggestshypotheses2aand2b:Hypothesis2a:Ceterisparibus,thebetterthespousalrelationshipis,themoresupportresourcesareallocatedtopaternalparentsHypothesis2b:Ceterisparibus,thebetterthespousalrelationshipis,themoresupportresourcesareallocatedtomaternalparentsTheemotionaladjustmentmechanism:maritalpowerandthespousalrelationshipvs.familyresourceallocationAccordingtoWeber,poweristhepossibilityofputtingthewilloftheindividualintotheactionsofothers(Weber2004).Eventhoughawomanpossessesconsiderablecapacitytoallocatefamilyresourceandherhusbandcannotinstitutionallyrestrainherpower,thisdoesnotmeanthatwivesintheChinesefamilywoulddefinitelymanagefamilyresourceallocationinoppositiontoherhusband’swishes.Thespousalrelationshipistheprimaryreason.Inotherwords,acoupleinagoodspousalrelationshipwillnegotiateontheissueoffamilyresourceallocation.Althoughawifemaypossessgreaterpowerindecisionmakingthanherhusband,sheoftendoesnotriskhurtingherhusband’sfeelingsbyusingherpowerdirectlytoreduceeconomicsupporttoherhusband’sparents.Incontrast,acoupleinapoorspousalrelationshipmaybeinclinedtodealwithfamilyaffairsrationally.Themaritalpowerofthewifethushassignificantinfluenceontheallocationoffamilysupportresources.ThispaperthereforesuggestsHypothesis3:Hypothesis3:ThespousalrelationshipservesasthemoderatorinthepowermechanismoffamilyresourceallocationTobespecific,Hypothesis3canbepresentedas:Hypothesis3a:Ceterisparibus,thebetterthespousalrelationshipis,thelessinfluentialwives’maritalpowerisintheallocationoffamilysupportresourcestopaternalparentsHypothesis3b:Ceterisparibus,thebetterthespousalrelationshipis,thelessinfluentialwives’maritalpowerisintheallocationoffamilysupportresourcestomaternalparentsData,variables,andanalyticstrategyDataTheanalyticaldataofthispapercomesfromthefamilysectionoftheChinaGeneralSocialSurveyof2006(CGSS2006).Thesurveyusedthefifthcensusdataasthesamplingframe.Usingthestratifiedfour-stageunequalprobabilitymethod,thesurveyrecruited10,151respondentsbetween18and69 yearsoldfrom28provinces(exceptTibet,Qinghai,Ningxia,HongKong,Macau,andTaiwan).Atotalof3208respondentswereaskedtofilloutanextrafamilyquestionnaire.Amongthem,1531householdswithatleastonelivingpaternalormaternalgrandparentweretheanalyticobjectsofthispaper.ThereasontochoosethefamilysectionofCGSS2006asthedatabaseisthatthesurveyofferssufficientdatatotesttheresearchhypothesesofthispaper.Thispaperexplorestherelationshipofwomen’sfamilystatus,spousalrelationship,andtheallocationofsupportresources,whichrequiresdatathatmeasuresmaritalpower,thequalityofthespousalrelationship,andintergenerationalresourceallocation.Commonlyuseddatasetscontainmore-recentdataonintergenerationalresourceallocation,suchastheChinaFamilyPanelStudies(CFPS)andChinaHealthandRetirementLongitudinalStudy(CHARLS).ThethirdSurveyonSocialStatusofWomen(2010)containsthelatestdataonmaritalpowerandspousalrelationships.CGSS2006istheonlydatasetthatincludesdataonthesethreetopics.However,thechoiceofdatasetisfarfromfrustratingbecausetheprimaryfocusofthispaperistodevelopandverifyanewexplanatoryframeworkofintergenerationalallocationoffamilyresourcesratherthantodescribethelateststatusofwomeninthefamily,thespousalrelationship,orintergenerationalallocationoffamilyresources.Thecollectedtimeofthedataisnotthatvitalfortheanalysisinthispaper.Giventhelargeamountofliteraturefocusingonthefactthatmanydaughtersaretakingcareofagingparentsandrevealingthelatestdevelopmentoffamilysupport,ifthedatacollectedaround2006cangenerallydemonstratethehypothesessuggestedinthispaper,itwouldbereasonabletobelievethatthestatementsinthispapercouldbeverifiedbyupdateddataifavailable.VariablesDependentvariablesIntergenerationalsupportinthefamilyoftenincludesthreeaspectsofwork:economicsupport,laborservice,andemotionalcare,whicharegenerallycoveredbyCGSS2006.Footnote7Inordertoexploretheresearchquestionofwhethertheriseofthedaughter-in-lawwithinthefamilyaffectsintergenerationalsupport,andhowthiscouldimpactfamilialsupporttoagingparents,thispaperanchorsdependentvariablesoneconomicsupport.First,forthemajorityofChinesefamilies,economicsupportisthemostfundamentalpartofintergenerationalsupport.Thefamilycanofferlaborserviceandemotionalcaretoagingpeopleaftersufficienteconomicsupporthasbeenprovided.Second,whatismoreimportantisthatthispaperclarifiesthetheoreticalquestionwithempiricaldata,soaconciseresearchdesignisdesirablesoastoaddressthehypothesesinastraightforwardmanner.Tobespecific,thedependentvariablesofthispaperarerespectiveeconomicsupporttopaternalparentsandmaternalparents,measuredbytheamountofmoneygiventopaternalparentsandmaternalparentsbytherespondenthouseholdinthepastyear.Thevaluerangesfromonetofive.Greatervalueindicatesmoremoneyofferedbytherespondenthousehold.IndependentvariablesOneoftheindependentvariablesofthispaperiswomen’smaritalpowerinthefamily,demonstratedbytheirpowerindecisionmaking.Thispapermeasuresandcompareshusbands’andwives’powerbyaskingaboutthedecision-makingprocessoffourfamilyissues:parentingchildren,supportingparents,householdexpendituredistribution,andpurchaseofexpensivehouseholdgoods.Thealphavalueofthesefourvariablesis0.71.Thispaperconductedfactoranalysisofthesefourvariables,Footnote8andgeneratedacommonfactortoindicatewives’maritalpowerinthefamily.Thecommonfactoriscalculatedasacontinuousvariablerangingfrom1to100.Greatervalueindicatesgreatermaritalpowerofwivesinthefamily.Theotherindependentvariable(alsothemoderatorvariable)isthequalityofthespousalrelationshipintherespondenthousehold.Thispaperchosefourquestionsfromthesurveytooperationalizethequalityofthespousalrelationship.Thestatements“ThespouselistenstomewhenIamcomplaining”and“Thespousetellsmeabouthis/herproblems”addressspousalcommunicationineverydaylife.Thequestions“Ingeneral,areyousatisfiedaboutyourmaritallife?”and“Ifyouweregivenachancetochooseyourspouseagain,wouldyouchoosethesameperson?”reflectthedegreeofsatisfactioninthemarriage.Thealphavalueofthesefourvariablesis0.70.Thispaperconductedfactoranalysisofthesefourvariables,Footnote9andgeneratedacommonfactortoindicatethequalityofthespousalrelationship.Thecommonfactorwascalculatedasacontinuousvariablerangingfrom1to100.Greatervalueindicatesgreaterqualityofthespousalrelationship.ControlvariablesTherearethreegroupsofcontrolvariablesinthispaper.First,sincethispapercomparesthepowerofhusbandandwifeandexploreshowthespousalrelationshipaffectstheallocationoffamilysupportresources,thecharacteristicsofthewifeandsomecomparablecharacteristicsofthehusbandandwifemayhaveinfluenceontheanalyticmodel.Thispaperthereforecontrolscertainvariablesaboutthewifeandthefamily,suchaswife’sage,wife’seducationlevel,theeducationgapbetweenhusbandandwife,Footnote10andfamilyincome.Footnote11Second,thispapercontrolsvariablesthatmayinfluenceintergenerationalsupport,includingeconomicsupportfrompaternalparentsandmaternalparentsinthepast,Footnote12familyresidencepattern,andhusbandandwife’snumberofsiblings.Manystudieshavepointedoutthatthesevariablesmayaffectintergenerationalsupport.Thusthemodelinthispaperneedstorevealthesoleeffectofwomen’smaritalpowerandthespousalrelationshiponintergenerationalsupportbykeepingthesevariablesfixed.Lastly,thispapercontrolsthetypeofhukou(registeredresidence)andlivingregion,whichhaveanimportantimpactincontemporaryChinesesociety.Bydoingso,thispapercontrolstheeffectofsociocultureonindividualbehavior.AnalyticstrategyThedataanalysisofthispaperiscomposedofthreeparts.Thefirstpartisadescriptivestatisticalanalysis,andtheremainingtwopartsaremultipleregressionanalyses.Thesecondpartfocusesontheinfluenceofwomen’smaritalpowerandthespousalrelationshiponfamilyintergenerationalsupport,andthethirdpartanalyzestheinteractioneffectofwomen’smaritalpowerandthespousalrelationshiponfamilyintergenerationalsupport.Sincethedependentvariableisanordinalvariablerangingfromonetofive,thispaperusestheologitmodelfortheanalysis.FindingsDescriptivestatisticsThispaperdiscussesintergenerationalsupportinthefamily;theindependentvariablesarethewife’smaritalpowerandthespousalrelationship.Droppingmissingvalues,theanalyticsamplesofthispapertotal1139households.Table 1showsthebasicinformationofthevariablesanddescriptiveanalysisstatistics.Urbanfamiliescomposethemajorityoftheresearchsample,constituting57.7%ofallsampledfamilies.Familiesintheeasternregionandcentralregionrespectivelymadeuparoundone-thirdofallsampledfamilies.Mostfamilieseconomicallysupportparents,bothpaternalparentsandmaternalparents.Thepercentageofsupportedpaternalparentsisslightlyhigherthanthatofmaternalparents,whichdemonstratesthatChinesefamiliestendtosupportmaternalparentsandthissupportisnotsignificantlylessthanthesupportofpaternalparents.Parentalsupporttoachild’sfamilyistypical;aroundhalfofrespondenthouseholdsformedofadultchildrenhadreceivedeconomicsupportfromtheirparentsaftermarriage,suchassupporttopurchaseorrentahouseorinvestmenttostartabusiness.Parentalsupportfrompaternalparentswasslightlyhigherthanthatfrommaternalparents.TheseresultsshowthattheintergenerationalrelationshipincontemporaryChinesesocietyunderwentsignificanttransformation,andtheflowoffamilyresourcesisnolongerconfinedtothepaternalline.Table1DescriptiveStatistics onvariablesN = 1139FullsizetableTheaverageageofthewifein1139respondenthouseholdswas38 yearsold.Theaveragelevelofthewife’seducationwasjuniorhighschool.Theaveragevalueofwife’smaritalpowerwas51inarangeof1to100,whichmeansthatmostcouplesmakedecisionsonfamilyaffairstogether.Comparedwithtraditionalsociety,wiveshavepossessedconsiderablepowerindecisionmakinginthefamily,whichisalsothesocialbackgroundofthispaper.Thequalityofspousalrelationshipinrespondentfamilieswasgenerallygood,withtheaveragevalueof73inarangeof1to100.Husbandshadahighereducationlevelthantheirwives.Bothhusbandsandwiveshadaroundthreesiblings.TheinfluenceofmaritalpowerontheintergenerationalallocationoffamilyresourcesAsmentionedearlier,thispaperusesologitmodeltodoanalysissincethedependentvariable“familyintergenerationaleconomicsupport”isanordinalvariablerangingfromonetofive.Model1isbuilttoexamineHypothesis1a,whichaddresseshowthewife’smaritalpowerimpactseconomicsupporttopaternalparents.Model2isbuilttoexamineHypothesis1b,whichfocusesonhowthewife’smaritalpowerimpactseconomicsupporttomaternalparents(seeTable 2).Table2Theinfluenceofwomen’smaritalpoweronintergenerationalresourceallocationinthefamilyN = 1139FullsizetableTheresultsinTable2demonstratethatafterholdingothervariablesoffamilyandwifefixed,thewife’smaritalpowerhassignificantnegativeimpactoneconomicsupporttopaternalparents.Inotherwords,thegreaterthewife’smaritalpower,themoreprobableitisthatthefamilywillreduceeconomicsupporttopaternalparents(model1).ThisresultconfirmsHypothesis1a,andalsoechoespeople’ssenseexperienceinstudiesthattheriseofthewife’sstatusinthefamilyerodestraditionalethicsofthepatriarchalfamily.Manysonsputtheirwivesbeforetheirmothersaftermarriage.However,itisworthnotingthattherearetwo“mothers”inthenewlyformedfamily—thehusband’smother(paternalparent)andthewife’smother(maternalparent).Althoughtheinfluenceofthewife’smaritalpoweroneconomicsupporttomaternalparentsisnotsignificantandHypothesis2aisnotverifiedaftercontrollingothervariablesoffamilyandwife,inmodel2thereisatendencyrevealedthattheinfluenceofthewife’smaritalpoweroneconomicsupporttomaternalparentsisinanoppositedirectiontotheinfluenceoneconomicsupporttopaternalparents.Inotherwords,thegreaterthewife’smaritalpower,themoreprobableitisthatthefamilywillincreaseeconomicsupporttomaternalparents.Insum,hypothesesontheinfluenceofmaritalpoweronintergenerationalsupportarepartiallyverifiedbythedataanalysis.Thispaperarguesthatalthoughsupporttothematernallinehasbeenacommonphenomenon,itisstillanemergingsocialfactwhoseinfluencefactorsandmechanismneedfurtheranalysis.TheinfluenceofthespousalrelationshipontheintergenerationalallocationoffamilyresourcesIntheallocationoffamilyresources,whetherornotthefamilyincreasesorreduceseconomicresourcesallocatedtopaternalparentsormaternalparentswiththeincreaseofthewife’spowerinthefamilyislargelydeterminedbytheidentificationof“ourfamily”bythecoupleinthenewfamily.Inasatisfactoryspousalrelationship,thecoupleempathizeswitheachothertoconsiderthespouse’sparentsasmembersof“ourfamily,”whichinfluencesresourceallocation.ThispaperthereforeshowstheinfluenceofthespousalrelationshiponintergenerationalresourceallocationbytestingHypothesis2inthissection.Tobespecific,model3isbuilttoexamineHypothesis2a,whichfocusesonhowthespousalrelationshipinthenewfamilyimpactseconomicsupporttopaternalparents.Model4isbuilttoexamineHypothesis2b,whichfocusesonhowthespousalrelationshipinthenewfamilyimpactseconomicsupporttomaternalparents.Inordertorevealtherealcausalitybetweenvariables,thevariableofwomen’smaritalpowerisaddedintomodel3andmodel4asacontrolvariable.Models5and6arethusgenerated(seeTable 3).Table3TheinfluenceofspousalrelationshiponintergenerationalresourceallocationinthefamilyN = 1139FullsizetableTheresultsofmodels3and4demonstratethatthespousalrelationshiphassignificantpositiveeffectoneconomicsupporttobothpaternalandmaternalparents.Inotherwords,thebetterthespousalrelationshipisinthenewfamily,themoreprobableitisthatthecouplewillempathizewitheachotherandincreaseeconomicsupporttobothpaternalandmaternalparents.ResearchHypothesis2isthusverified.Theresultsofmodels5and6showthataftercontrollingthemaritalpowerofthedaughter-in-law,thespousalrelationshipmaintainsitssignificantinfluenceoneconomicsupporttopaternalandmaternalparents.Therefore,theempathymechanismdoeshaveexplanatorypowerincomprehendingtheprocessofintergenerationalallocationoffamilyresources.Theinteractioneffectofwomen’smaritalpowerandthespousalrelationshiponintergenerationalsupportinthefamilyThispaperarguesthatwiththeimprovementofwomen’sfamilystatusandadvancementofautonomy,theincreaseinwomen’smaritalpowermayleadtothedecreaseofsupportresourcestopaternalparents(husbands’parents)andincreasesupportresourcestomaternalparents(wife’sparents).However,theriseinwomen’sfamilystatusonlyadvancestheircapacitytoallocatefamilyresources.Thespousalrelationshiphasamoderatoreffectonhowwomen’scapacityactuallydeterminestheallocationoffamilyresources.Thispapersuggeststhatthecoupleisinclinedtonegotiatefamilyissuesiftheyhavegoodrelationship.Eventhoughthewifepossessesgreaterpowerindecisionmaking,sheoftendoesnotexercisethepowerdirectlywhenshethinksitwillhurtherhusband’sfeelings.Hence,itislesslikelyforthefamilywithagoodspousalrelationshiptoreduceeconomicsupporttothehusband’sparents.Incontrast,inafamilywithapoorspousalrelationship,thecoupletendstodealwithfamilyaffairswitharationalapproach,andthewife’smaritalpowerthushasasignificantanddirectinfluenceontheallocationoffamilysupportresources.ThispapertestsHypothesis3toverifythemoderatoreffectofthespousalrelationshiponthepowermechanismofintergenerationalresourceallocation.Model7isbuilttoexamineHypothesis3aandtheinteractionofthespousalrelationshipandwomen’smaritalpoweroneconomicsupporttopaternalparents.Model8isbuilttotesttheinteractionofthespousalrelationshipandwomen’smaritalpoweroneconomicsupporttomaternalparents(seeTable 4).Table4Theinteractionofwomen’smaritalpowerandthespousalrelationshiponintergenerationalsupportinthefamilyN = 1139FullsizetableTheresultsinTable4demonstratethatthespousalrelationshipisamoderatoroftheinfluenceofwomen’smaritalpoweroneconomicsupporttopaternalparents.Inthefamilywithagoodspousalrelationship,women’smaritalpowerhaslimitednegativeeffectonintergenerationalsupporttopaternalparents,whichverifiesresearchHypothesis3a.However,thespousalrelationshipisnotasignificantmoderatorbetweenwomen’smaritalpowerandeconomicsupporttomaternalparents.Hypothesis3bisnotverifiedbythedata.ConclusionanddiscussionAnalyzingthedatafromthefamilysectionofCGSS2006,thispaperexplorestheeffectsofmaritalpowerandthespousalrelationshipontheintergenerationalallocationoffamilyresourcesandtheirmechanisms.Statisticsshowthatthepowermechanismofintergenerationalallocationoffamilyresourcespartiallyexists:thegreaterthemaritalpowerofthedaughter-in-law,thelesseconomicsupportisgiventopaternalparents.Meanwhile,theempathymechanismhasaninfluenceontheintergenerationalallocationoffamilyresources:thebetterthespousalrelationshipisinthenewfamily,themoreeconomicsupportisprovidedtobothpaternalandmaternalparents.Furthermore,thespousalrelationshipcanmediatetheeffectofmaritalpowerdistributiononpaternaleconomicsupport.Thebetterrelationshipthecouplehas,thelessmaritalpowercanaffecteconomicsupporttothepaternalparents.Insummary,thetheoreticalframeworkproposedbythispaperisverifiedinpaternalsupport.Inmaternalsupport,onlytheempathymechanismisverified.Giventhetraditionaldominationofpaternalsupport,thefindingsofthispaperareofacademicsignificanceandempiricalreference.Asanewlyemergingtendency,themechanismofmaternalsupportshouldbeassumedtobemorecomplexandrequirefurtherexploration.Thispapergeneratesanimportantresponsetothetopicofintergenerationalrelationshipsandagingcareintheacademicfield.Thefollowingsectionsfurtherdiscussrelevantissues.Areflectionontherelationshipofthedaughter-in-lawandthemotherThispaperstartswithadiscussionofpeople’ssenseexperienceineverydaylifethatsonsmaybeputtinghiswifebeforehismotheraftermarriage.Thediscussionisdevelopedbyrevealingthecauseofmother-wifeconflicts—sincethedaughter-in-lawhasneverbeenparentedorcaredforbyherparents-in-law,atleastbeforemarriage,sheprobablyrefusestoacceptthetraditionalresponsibilityoftakingcareofheragingparents-in-lawwhenshebecomesawareofherrightsandpossessesconsiderablepowerinthefamilydecision-makingprocess.Shebeginstoexchangetheallocationofsupportresourcestoparentsforparentalcontributionstoherownfamily,suchasdoingchoresandtakingcareofgrandchildrenforhernewlyformedfamily.Atfirstglance,therelationshipofmotherandwifeisembeddedinazerosumgame.Thatis,asforsons,theincreaseofthewife’spowerstandsforanecessarydecreaseofthemother’srightsandinterests;otherwise,hehastolimithiswife’spowersoastoprotecthismother’srightsandinterests.Bringingthevariableofspousalrelationshipintothediscussion,thispaperdiscoversthatagoodspousalrelationshipencouragesthenewfamilytoeconomicallysupportbothpaternalandmaternalparents.Moreover,agoodspousalrelationshipcancounterbalancethenegativeeffectofthewife’smaritalpoweronintergenerationalsupporttopaternalparents.Inotherwords,husbandscanactasthelubricanttotherelationshipbetweenmotherandwife.Itisnotinevitablethathismotherandhiswifeareinconflict.Inthissense,itisduetoeitherabiasedmoralassumptionorlackofeffortforresearcherstoaccusedaughters-in-lawofrulingtheroostinthefamilyandcausingtheaging-carepredicamentincontemporaryChina,orattributingthechallengesinagingcare,atleastpartially,totheimprovementinwomen’sstatus.Thecomplexmechanismsbehindthisphenomenonarethuseclipsedbyroughmoraljudgments.Theremaybemultiplepracticalwaystoovercometheaging-carepredicament.Oneistocoordinatefamilyrelationshipsandpromotefamilyharmony,whichhassignificantpositiveeffectonthechallengesoffamilialagingcare.Daughtersinsupport(女儿养老)andthedual-tracksystem(双系并重)Thetopicofdaughtersinsupporthasrecentlydrawnmuchacademicattentionwhendiscussingfamilyagingcare.Theemergenceofthetopiciscloselyrelatedtotheone-childpolicyandconsequentincreaseofall-femalehouseholds.Peoplehaveobservedthatmoreandmoremarrieddaughtersareeconomicallysupportingmaternalparents.Thispaperfindsthatthemajorityoffamilieseconomicallysupportbothpaternalandmaternalparentstosomedegree.Thepercentageoffamiliessupportingmaternalparentsisonlyslightlylessthanthatoffamiliessupportingpaternalparents,demonstratingthatitisanemergingtrendincontemporarysociety.Underthebackgroundofthegeneralimprovementofwomen’sfamilystatus,“daughtersinsupport”haspartiallybecomeasocialfact.Thischangemayalterparents’sexpreference,especiallyparentsinruralareas.Itmaynowbeapracticalfamilystrategytoreardaughtersfortheirreciprocalsupportandcaretoagingparents(Gao2014).Takingphenomenologyasthebasisofepistemologyandbringingtheconceptoftheuterinefamilyin,thispapersuggeststhatwithautonomyindecisionmaking,itisalmosthumannatureforwomentotakecareofmaternalparentswhoparentedandcaredforherwhenshewasyoung,andreducesupporttopaternalparentswithwhomsheisnotasclose.Yetfamilyhasneverbeenaplaceinwhichpurerationalcalculationistheprimaryforce.Emotionhasacriticalinfluenceinthefieldoffamily.Thespousalrelationshipcansubstantiallymodifyandintegratethehusband’sandwife’sexpectationsofoldercaretoparents.Agoodspousalrelationshipencouragesthecoupletoempathizewitheachother,puttingoneselfintheotherperson’sshoes.Underthiscircumstance,itiseasierforthecoupletocometoanagreementaboutfamilyissues,resultinginamoresufficientandstablesupplyofeconomicsupporttobothpaternalandmaternalparents.Chinahasimplementedtheone-childpolicyfordecades,andthusalowfertilityratecannotbereversedinashorttime.Underthisdemographicbackground,thedual-tracksystemoffamilyoldercareisofconsiderablesocialimportance.Itisworthnotingthatthispaperdoesnotverifywhetherornotwomen’smaritalpowerpositivelyinfluenceseconomicsupporttomaternalparents.Thisisbecauseontheonehand,theonlyavailabledatasetoffersasmallsampleandroughmeasurementoftheconcepts;ontheotherhand,“daughters-in-support”issuchanewphenomenonthatitsmechanismisfarfrombeingmasteredyet.Thephenomenonofdaughtersinsupportrequiresfurtherexploration. NotesTheextremecaseofthisisthesuicideoftheagedwithcancerorotherseriousdiseases.Theseagedpatientschoosetokillthemselvesinordertoreleasetheburdenfortheirfamilies.AlthoughFeidiscussesintergenerationalrelationshipsamongF1,F2,andF3inhisreciprocalmodel,theprimaryanalyticalfocusesaretwogenerationsinwhichF1rearsF2andF2supportsF1asakindofrepayment.TherelationshipbetweenF2andF3isjustacopyoftherelationshipbetweenF1andF2.Thelogicofresourceallocationamongthreegenerationsisdifferentfromthatoftwogenerations;seeDiandZheng2016.Thedescriptionofparentinginthispaperdoesnotmeanthatthefamilywouldonlyrearsonsandignoredaughters.Thediscussiononrearingsonshelpshighlightthepaternalinheritanceoffamilyresourcesandclarifytheanalyticalframeworkofthispaper.Inthetraditionalera,theidentificationof“ourfamily”ofmarriedwomenwaspreservedandcontinuedbypowerfulconditionsoutsidethefamily,includingtheexclusionofwomeninmainstreamproduction,patrilocalityinwhichawomanmainlylivedseparatelyfromhernatalfamily,andtheethicalcodesof“threeobediencesandfourvirtues”(三从四德).Thetheoryoftheuterinefamilysuggestsanobviouslygenderedimplication.Theexistenceoftheuterinefamilyisanactivereactionagainstthepatriarchalfamily.Itisaninvisibleformoffamilyparalleltothepatriarchalfamilyineverydaylife.Theexistenceoftheuterinefamilydemonstratesthatitishumannaturetoconstructlifearoundoneself.Thistendencyistoostrongtobeeliminatedbythepatriarchalculture.Questionsinthequestionnaireaskedabouteconomicsupportandlaborserviceinintergenerationalsupport.Thequestionnairedoesnotcoveremotionalcare.TheKMOvalueoffactoranalysisis0.69.Theexplainedvarianceratioofgeneratedfactoris37%.Theprocessoffactoranalysisisomitted.TheKMOvalueoffactoranalysisis0.57.Theexplainedvarianceratioofgeneratedfactoris39%.Theprocessoffactoranalysisisomitted.Theeducationgapisthevalueofthewife’seducationlevelminusthehusband’seducationlevel.Greatervalueindicatesthehighereducationlevelofthewifecomparedwithherhusband.Sincetherearemanymissingvaluesinincome,thispaperdoesnotcontrolwife’sincomeandtheincomegapbetweenhusbandandwifeinthemodel.Aftercontrollingwife’sincomeandtheincomegapbetweenhusbandandwife,themodelgeneratesthesameresultsasinthenextsection.Sincethereisnodataontheincomeofpaternalparentsandmaternalparents,theeconomicsupporttheyofferedinthepasttotheirchild’sfamilymayreflecttheireconomicstatus.AbbreviationsCFPS: ChinaFamilyPanelStudies CGSS: ChineseGeneralSocialSurvey CHARLS: ChinaHealthandRetirementLongitudinalStudy ReferencesChen,F.,andK.Korinek.2010.FamilylifecoursetransitionsandruralhouseholdeconomyduringChina’smarketreform.Demography47(4).Article  GoogleScholar  Chen,Jieming.1998.Investmentandsupport:causalityanalysisofintergenerationalexchangeofurbanites.SocialSciencesinChina(6):131–145.Cheng,Weirong.2006.HistoryofChina'sinheritancesystem.Beijing:OrientPublishingCenter. GoogleScholar  Di,Jinhua,XinYou,andZhangbaoZhong.2013.Thepowerinfamily,intergenerationalexchangeandthesupplyofsupportingresourcesfortheelderly.YouthStudies(4):84–93.Di,Jinhua,andDandanZheng.2016.Ethicallapseorethicalchange:onruralChinafamilyresourceallocationfrommodernizationperspective.Society(1):186–212.Fei,Xiaotong.1983.Elderlycareinthetransformationoffamilystructure—re-discussiononthechangeoffamilystructureinChina.JournalPekingUniversity(1):6–15.Gao,Xiujuan.2014.Daughterscaringforparentsinthecountryside.CollectionofWomen’sStudies(5):109–112.Goode,WilliamJ.1963.Worldrevolutionandfamilypatterns.NewYork:TheFreePress. GoogleScholar  Gui,Hua,andJieJia.2010.Women’ssuicideinfamilyconflicts:researchinXVillageinDayeCity.CollectionofWomen’sStudies(5):34–41.Guo,Yuhua.2001.Theequitylogicanditschangesinintergenerationalrelations—ananalysisoftheelderlycareinHebei.Chineseacademia(4):47–66.He,Shanjun.1995.Newissuesandstrategiesofelderlycareinruralfamily.Population&Economics(3):49–52.Jin,Yihong.1998.Ruralwomeninnon-agriculturalprocess.SociologicalResearch(5):106–114.Levy,Marion.1968.ThefamilyrevolutioninmodernChina.NewYork:Atheneum. GoogleScholar  Li,Shuzhuo,XiaoyiJin,andM.Freedman.2002.Astudyontheinfluenceofchildren'smarriageformandindividualfactorsofChineseruralhouseholdonfamily-division.SociologicalResearch(4):102–116.Li,Xia.2010.Wife’sfamilyandhusband’sfamily.Beijing:SocialScienceLiteraturePress. GoogleScholar  Liang,Shuming.2005.Chineseculturalessentials.Shanghai:ShanghaiRenminPress. GoogleScholar  Luo,Meijun.2004.MarriageandfamilyeconomyinruralChina:thelate19thcenturyandnow.InNewperspectivesonfamilyhistorystudy,ed.ZhangGuogang.Beijing:SDXJointPublishingCompany. GoogleScholar  Schutz,A.2001.Theproblemofsocialreality,Huo,Guihuan&Suo,Xintranslated.Beijing:HuaxiaPublishingHouse. GoogleScholar  Shen,Duanfeng.2007a.EthniccrisisinruralChina.ChinaReview(HongKong)(3):107–119.Shen,Duanfeng.2007b.Culturalandethicaldimensionofthenewvillageconstruction.StudyandPractice(8):148–151.Shiga,Shuzo.2003.PrincipleofChina’sfamilyrules,Zhang,Jianguo&li,litranslated.Beijing:LawPress. GoogleScholar  Tan,Tongxue.2010.RoadtoQiaocunvillage:ethnics,powerandsocialstructureintransformingvillage.Beijing:SDXJointPublishingCompany. GoogleScholar  Tang,Can,ChunhuaMa,andJinqunShi.2009.Ethicandfairnessofdaughter'ssupportingtoherparents’family:genderstudyonintergenerationalfamilyrelationinruralareasofeasternZhejiangProvince.SociologicalResearch(6):18–36.Weber,Max.2004.Thetheoryofdomination,Kang,Le&Jian,Huimeitranslated.Guilin:GuangxiNormalUniversityPress. GoogleScholar  Weber,Max.2008.ConfucianismandTaoism,HongTianfutranslated.Nanjing:JiangsuRenminPress. GoogleScholar  Whyte,MartinK.,andWilliamParish.1984.Sexualinequalityundersocialism:theChinesecaseinperspective.InClassandsocialstratificationinpost-revolutionChina,ed.J.Watson.NewYork:CambridgeUniversityPress. GoogleScholar  Wolf,M.1972.WomenandthefamilyinruralTaiwan.Boston:StanfordUniversityPress. GoogleScholar  Xiao,Dong.2002.Isitthelastgenerationoftraditionalmother-in-law?SociologicalResearch(3):79–91.Yan,Yunxiang.2006.Privatelifeundersocialism:love,intimacy,andfamilychangeinaChinesevillage,1949–1999,gong,Xiaoxiatranslated.Shanghai:ShanghaiShudianPress. GoogleScholar  Yan,Yunxiang.2012.TheindividualizationofChinesesociety,Lu,Yangetal.translated.Shanghai:ShanghaiTranslationPublishingHouse. GoogleScholar  Yang,C.K.1959.TheChinesefamilyinthecommunistrevolution.Cambridge:MITPress. GoogleScholar  Yang,Shanhua,andChonglinShen.2000.Urbanandruralfamilies:changesinmarketeconomyandnon-agricultureprocess.Hangzhou:ZhejiangRenminPress. GoogleScholar  Zhang,Jianlei,andJinqingCao.2016.Familypoliticswithoutjusticeandcrisisofsupportingruralelderly:ananalysisframeworkbasedoninvestigationinruralareasofGuanzhongplain.JournalofNanjingAgriculturalUniversity(SocialScienceEdition)(1):132–143.Zheng,Zhenman.1992.FujianclanorganizationandsocialtransformationinMingandQingdynasty.Changsha:HunanEducationPress. GoogleScholar  Zimmer,Z.,andJ.Dayton.2005.Olderadultsinsub-SaharanAfricalivingwithchildrenandgrandchildren.PopulationStudies59(3).Article  GoogleScholar  DownloadreferencesAvailabilityofdataandmaterialsDatausedinthepaperisfreelyavailableforacademicpurpose.AuthorinformationAuthorsandAffiliationsSchoolofSociology/CenterofGenderStudies,HuazhongUniversityofScienceandTechnology,Wuhan,ChinaDandanZhengSchoolofSociology,HuazhongUniversityofScienceandTechnology,Wuhan,ChinaJinhuaDiAuthorsDandanZhengViewauthorpublicationsYoucanalsosearchforthisauthorin PubMed GoogleScholarJinhuaDiViewauthorpublicationsYoucanalsosearchforthisauthorin PubMed GoogleScholarContributionsThepapercontributestotheanalysisonintergenerationalsupport.Bothauthorsreadandapprovedthefinalmanuscript.CorrespondingauthorCorrespondenceto DandanZheng.Ethicsdeclarations Competinginterest Theauthorsdeclarethattheyhavenocompetinginterests. Publisher’sNote SpringerNatureremainsneutralwithregardtojurisdictionalclaimsinpublishedmapsandinstitutionalaffiliations. Rightsandpermissions OpenAccessThisarticleisdistributedunderthetermsoftheCreativeCommonsAttribution4.0InternationalLicense(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/),whichpermitsunrestricteduse,distribution,andreproductioninanymedium,providedyougiveappropriatecredittotheoriginalauthor(s)andthesource,providealinktotheCreativeCommonslicense,andindicateifchangesweremade. ReprintsandPermissionsAboutthisarticleCitethisarticleZheng,D.,Di,J.Maritalpower,spousalrelationship,andintergenerationalsupport. J.Chin.Sociol.5,14(2018).https://doi.org/10.1186/s40711-018-0084-7DownloadcitationReceived:31July2018Accepted:13September2018Published:08October2018DOI:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40711-018-0084-7SharethisarticleAnyoneyousharethefollowinglinkwithwillbeabletoreadthiscontent:GetshareablelinkSorry,ashareablelinkisnotcurrentlyavailableforthisarticle.Copytoclipboard ProvidedbytheSpringerNatureSharedItcontent-sharinginitiative KeywordsMaritalpowerSpousalrelationshipIntergenerationalsupport DownloadPDF Advertisement