老年父母家庭照顾中的性别研究概观——以香港的个案研究为例

• 作 者: 黄何明雄 周厚萍 龚淑媚
• 机 构: 香港浸会大学社会学系,香港浸会大学社会学系,香港浸会大学社会学系 助理教授,博士,助理教授,硕士,助理教授,硕士
• 出 处: 社会学研究
• 发表日期: 2003年01期
• 关键词: 性别研究 成年子女 个案研究 文化规范 社区照顾 华人社会 姻亲关系 理论模型 老年社会 情感关系

Based on the living experiences of 11 primary caregivers, this paper finds that gender is crucial for adult children to serve as primary caregivers to their elderly parents. First, male and female adult children have different views of their roles as primary caregivers. According to their views, sons are fulfilling the expectations of their elderly parents in providing care to them, whereas daughters are trying their best to provide their elderly parents with quality care. Secondly, although the feminization of caregiving tasks makes the female children as “ideal” caregivers, the taboo on “gender” and “sexualities” still offers a challenge to female children caregivers. Thirdly, the possible ways to release the boundary on gendered family caregiving are also discussed in the interpretations of primary caregivers.

Based on the living experiences of 11 primary caregivers, this paper finds that gender is crucial for adult children to serve as primary caregivers to their elderly parents. First, male and female adult children have different views of their roles as primary caregivers. According to their views, sons are fulfilling the expectations of their elderly parents in providing care to them, though the feminization of caregiving tasks makes the female children as “ideal” caregivers, the taboo on “gender” and “sexualities” still offers a challenge to female children caregivers. Thirdly, the possible ways to release the boundary on gendered family caregiving are also discussed in the interpretations of primary caregivers.