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The Double Burden of Care in Hong Kong: Implications for Care Policies and Arrangements

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Gender, Care and Migration in East Asia

Part of the book series: Series in Asian Labor and Welfare Policies ((Series in Asian Labor and Welfare Policies))

Abstract

The concept of a double burden of care, in this case, refers to the burden of caring for the older generation (parents) as well as the younger (children) simultaneously. While previous studies have focused on the impact of these two types of care separately, this chapter examines the burden of those responsible for both types of care. Based on survey data collected in Hong Kong from late 2013 to early 2014, the chapter offers an account of the level of stress and the concerns of those providing care. It was found that their stress levels were not particularly alarming, largely due to the good health of the caregivers and care receivers. However, there were concerns about the adequacy of and hence expectations regarding public services.

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Acknowledgment

This study formed part of a comparative study of the double burden of care in East Asia that, under the research project title “A Comparative Study of Double Responsibilities of Care in East Asia,” was funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Scientific Research [B]: No. 24310192), and by the Centre for Economic and Social Studies in Asia (CESSA) at Yokohama National University. The author would like to thank Junko Yamashita and Naoko Soma for their work coordinating the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Raymond K. H. Chan

  2. Hong Kong Women’s Club Madam Wong Chan Sook Ying Memorial Care and Attention Home for the Aged, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Priscilla Y. K. Wong

Authors
  1. Raymond K. H. Chan
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  2. Priscilla Y. K. Wong
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Chiba University, Chiba, Japan

    Reiko Ogawa

  2. City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Raymond K.H. Chan

  3. Chiba University, Chiba, Japan

    Akiko S. Oishi

  4. National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Lih-Rong Wang

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Chan, R.K.H., Wong, P.Y.K. (2018). The Double Burden of Care in Hong Kong: Implications for Care Policies and Arrangements. In: Ogawa, R., Chan, R., Oishi, A., Wang, LR. (eds) Gender, Care and Migration in East Asia. Series in Asian Labor and Welfare Policies. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7025-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7025-9_2

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-7024-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-7025-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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