On Family Relationship During The Social Transformation In Chinese Rural Areas

Family are the result of social disintegration and the basis for socialreintegration, and they occupy a particularly important place in the social structure of Chinese rural areas, and the fact that family and the nation share the same structure endows family relationship with strong ethical coloring, and male elders enjoy absolute authority within families. But since the adoption of reform and open policy, family relationship in rural areas has undergone significant changes, which is mainly caused by the urbanization and modernization of rural areas and the resulting employment of countrywomen in large numbers. After presenting an overall analysis based on sociology and social psychology, the author identifies two main reasons for these changes, One is the social disintegration and changes, together with the resulting population flow in many areas and at various levels, which widens the gap between farmers in terms of income, status and power. But the fundamental cause is the change of the mode of production and the improvement of women's economic status. These two factors compel family members to adjust their modes of life and values, thus helping to bring about more equal and democratic family relationship in Chinese rural areas.