The Relation of Migration to Changing Household Headship Patterns in China, 1982–1987

Theories of family development posited by Goode suggest that increased economic opportunities and more efficient agricultural production which leads to very high levels of migration in China increases the number of nuclear families. However examination of headship rates in China during 1982-87 suggests a process of family fusion. Fertility and the household size declined and the number of adults in the household increased from 2.9 in 1982 to 3.0 in 1987. Households with three generations or more increased from 18.8% to 20.0% of all households. Age standardized headship rates declined among all households marital households and in both rural areas and cities. The major explanatory factor is attributed to in-migration that is policy-based. 1) Youths who moved to rural areas during the Cultural Revolution were encouraged to return to cities. 2) Couples were reunited after separation due to job assignment. 3) The army was demobilized. Many had been housed in collective households. A detailed analysis of a marital population whose first marriage occurred before July 1 1982 (identified in the 1987 survey) reveals that many males migrated due to job transfers connected with family reunification. Other major reasons for migration are reunification with a relative or friend and retirement. Womens reasons focus on marriage and reunion with spouses. Data from the 1987 survey support the view that in-migrating males are absorbed into existing households. Female migration patterns refute the assumption that spousal reunion and male headship is a result of migration. Analysis reveals that only a small proportion of all male household heads live apart from wives in 1982 and 1987. However a large percentage of female household heads are living apart from husbands (21% in urban and 84% in rural areas in 1987). Male headship in cities declined from 10.5% in 1982 to 3.1% in 1987. Female headship declined from 44.7% to 21.1%. Age specific rates show different geographic patterns. A large impact on family structure is due to "temporary" or unauthorized migration to cities into group quarters or within families. Future trends will depend on migration policy elderly social supports and unknown factors.