Families in transition in Hong Kong : implications to family research and practice

Abstract

Utilizing the life course perspective, historical time and events that have influenced family development, delay of social timing of family development, linked lives that supported families and emergence of different modes of the families in Hong Kong were examined. The analyses showed several changes in the structures and functions of families in Hong Kong during the past few decades, which include: 1) reduced birth rate due to the success of the "birth control" campaign, the change of the conception of childbearing and the rising burden associated with child rearing; 2) delay of social timing of marriage and parenthood as more females participated in the labor force; 3) increased involvement of grandparents and foreign domestic helpers in taking care of the children; 4) parents are heavily affected by the educational opportunities and achievement of their children, resulting in the mushrooming of "monster parents" (helicopter parents) who "hover" over their children's lives; 5) emergence of "DINK" (Double Income, No Kids) families; 6) an increase in cross-border marriages; 7) an increasing trend of marital disruption in families; and 8) a growing demand for the recognition of non-traditional forms of families. The implications of these family developments to family research and practice were discussed.