Family structure theory suggests that family structure is the division of roles of family members, during which contact with a certain character, and how interaction and organization, interaction and impact of this interaction and impact of the formation of the family model type. According to sociological and anthropological point of view, the main focus of the family structure is the family structure of the basic triangle, the famous sociologist Fei Xiaotong that in a marriage contract which includes not only a relationship, but includes two kinds of associated social relationship - the relationship between his wife and child relationship. These two relations can not separately, husband and wife relationship is the premise of parent-child relationships, parent-child relationship with his wife as a necessary condition for the relationship. This is a trilateral triangle, is not the shortage, and the "DINK" The family is built on the marriage-based, contain only a social relationship, the relationship between husband and wife Jesus, but a simple horizontal family relationships. It is the backbone of the family and the nuclear family as the mainstream in this context of a useful exploration of the family structure and then the formation of a new type of family relationship.
Sino-US differences in family structure, it is clear there are: "DINK" family formation of the reasons. In the United States does not want born Dink, while in China because no raw and Dink.
The family structure is a combination of status of family members, it is inter-generational family structure and population structure of the unified form of combination. West differences in family structure reflects the different Chinese and Western family values.
Genetic relationship between the Chinese people attach importance to China's relations with the blood on behalf of the strong affinity, passing three major characteristics of strong and sustained strong. But in China's modernization process, constrained by the social environment, or promote, our family structure showing a significant change in the following characteristics: (1) family size small: the nuclear family or small families on the rise; (2) Stem Family (referring to a family with more than two generations, each generation is only a couple) is still a considerable proportion; (3) diversity of family types: the core of family-oriented, and other non-core-oriented small families, such as inter-generational family , DINK families, empty-nest families, single-parent families, single-parent families are also being posed by urban and rural family structure important content.
By contrast, Westerners are not as for the genetic relationship between the Chinese people are so great importance. In Western countries, the nuclear family overwhelmingly dominant position, while the backbone of the family negligible, in addition to single-parent families, single-parent families, cohabitation and family forms.
2. The relationship between the individual and the family
Deeply influence of Confucianism, the Chinese people's strong family values. In the individual, family, group three, the family holds a very prominent position. In dealing with the relationship between the individual and the family home will always be sacred, the first one, and personal interests subordinate to the interests of the family (and family interests and family interests are closely linked), and often combined.
In Western cultures, individuals and groups occupy a much more important than the family's position. The family is the basic unit of society, but it can be further broken down into individual. For the Westerner, not only the main body of knowledge, natural domination, but also the masters of society and family in the personal and family relations, personal interests and aspirations of the dominant factor, while the family is of secondary importance