Neo-traditional child surnaming in contemporary China : Women’s rights as veiled patriarchy

Journal article


Qi, Xiaoying. (2017). Neo-traditional child surnaming in contemporary China : Women’s rights as veiled patriarchy. Sociology. 52(5), pp. 1001-1016. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038516688613
AuthorsQi, Xiaoying
Abstract

A sparse sociological literature on surnaming reports predominantly western cases. This article examines surnaming practices in present-day China, where married women universally retain their surname as part of a national political project. The one-child policy disrupts the practice of providing to a child his/her father’s surname. Wives from daughter-only families increasingly provide their surname to their child(ren). Various social forms of mother-surname-to-child practices are discussed, including those involving zhao-xu (uxorilocal marriage) and liang-tou-dun (‘two places to stay’). The article reports a gender strategy of mother-to-child surnaming that paradoxically enforces patriarchal inheritance and obligation. A concept, ‘veiled patriarchy’, is developed and applied to surnaming practices in contemporary China.

Keywordssurnaming; gender; veiled patriarchy; power; obligation; inheritance
Year2017
JournalSociology
Journal citation52 (5), pp. 1001-1016
PublisherSage Publications Ltd.
ISSN0038-0385
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038516688613
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85042532346
Open accessPublished as green open access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range1001-1016
Research GroupSchool of Arts
Author's accepted manuscript
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Open
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Controlled
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This record includes an authors accepted manuscript. Qi, Xiaoying, “Neo-traditional child surnaming in contemporary China: Women’s rights as veiled patriarchy”, Sociology, pp. 1-16. Copyright © 2017 Xiaoying Qi. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications. DOI: 10.1177/0038038516688613

Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
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https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/88v04/neo-traditional-child-surnaming-in-contemporary-china-women-s-rights-as-veiled-patriarchy

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