IngentaConnect The sexual division of care in mainland China and Hong Kong

Authors: Yu S.W.K.¹; Chau R.C.M.²

Source: International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Volume 21, Number 4, December 1997 , pp. 607-619(13)

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to explore the extent to which the sexual division of domestic labour in Hong Kong and mainland China is influenced by traditional Chinese values and contemporary political and economic factors. It discovers that women in these two societies assume far more caring responsibilities than men. This is similar to women in traditional Chinese society. An important reason is that the political and economic conditions in Hong Kong and mainland China favour the reproduction of traditional Chinese values. Hence it can be argued that the unequal division of domestic labour between men and women will continue as long as the political and economic conditions are unfavourable to women.

Le but de cet article est d'explorer jusqu'a quel point les valeurs chinoises traditionnelles et les facteurs politiques et economiques contemporains influencent la division sexuelle du travail domestique a Hong Kong et en Chine. Cet article a decouvert que, dans ces deux societes, les femmes ont beaucoup plus de reponsabilites sociales que les hommes. Ceci est similaire a la societe chinoise traditionnelle. Une raison importante est que les conditions politiques et economiques a Hong Kong et en Chine favorisent la reproduction des valeurs chinoises traditionnelles. On peut donc dire que la division inegale du travail domestique entre les hommes et les femmes continuera tant que les conditions politiques et economiques seront desavantageuses pour les femmes.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield 2: Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield