As sister, as mother
Gendered parentification and obligations in large-age-gap sibling families in China
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19472002 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Zilu Wang (0000-0001-5638-4574, East China University of Science and Technology, corresponding author), Fengqiang Wang (0000-0003-3203-0979, University of Bristol), Yunyan Li (0000-0003-2495-6835, University of Leicester) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-23 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-27 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Family Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1322-9400 • E-ISSN: 1839-3543 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/13229400.2026.2663994 |
| OpenAlex | W7156071471 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 34 |
This article examines the parentification of elder sisters in contemporary Chinese families with large age gaps between siblings, a phenomenon intensified by recent Two- and Three-Child Policies in mainland China. Drawing on digital ethnography of Xiaohongshu and 27 in-depth interviews, this study explores how unmarried elder sister, often more than 15 years older than their siblings, are required to be de facto caregivers. Our findings reveal three key themes: involuntary parentification and zhangjie rumu cultural imperative; the structural spillover effects of sisterly parentification in economic disadvantage, romantic risk, and social stigma of fudimo; and the adaptive strategies elder sisters employ, ranging from emotional internalization to negotiated compromise and boundary withdrawal. We argue that elder-sister parentification constitutes a form of gendered reproductive labour that is both morally valorized and socially penalized. This study contributes to scholarship on sibling relations, gendered care, and intergenerational family change by demonstrating how sibling configurations intersect with broader state policy, demographic shifts, and kinship ideologies in contemporary China
China · Project commissioning · Publishing · Sibling · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Family Support in Illness · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |