Abstract
Chapter 7 illuminates the current literature of household divisions of labor by introducing explanations beyond the dyadic interaction between the couple. It examines how children and in-laws encourage the doing gender process of couples in everyday life. While past research portrayed children as “childcare responsibility,” “helpers” in the family, or at best passive beings molded by parents into appropriate gender roles, this research shows that in sharing a gendered cultural backdrop, children actively make gendered choices and employ various strategies that encourage their parents to “do gender.” The in-laws are also significant members in Chinese families where filial piety is emphasized. Their manifest, hidden and latent power enable them to play an active role in scrutinizing couples’ character and behavior in day-to-day interaction.
“Honey , can I pretend to be Mommy and tuck you in tonight?” says Daddy. “No! You are not Mommy. I don’t want Daddy,” cries Mr. Ho’s 7-year-old daughter.
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Notes
- 1.
The term “wifework” is borrowed from Susan Maushart, who takes a radical view of the patriarchal institution of marriage.
- 2.
Mrs. Duan’s mother-in-law died in 2005.
- 3.
There is no exact translation for this phrase. It means a domestic and subservient woman who cares nothing but her husband and the family.
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Lui, L. (2012). Children, In-Laws, and “Doing Gender” of Couples. In: Re-negotiating Gender. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4848-4_7
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