Exploring Father Silence in Modern Chinese Families: A Qualitative Analysis of Intimate Family Relationships

• In Event: The Role of Family and Generational Impacts in Chinese Education

Proposal

The economic and political changes in China since the reform and opening have led to a transformation in the traditional patriarchal family system, liberating modern Chinese families from its dominance. Consequently, the power dynamics and responsibilities within families have gradually undergone deconstruction and reconstruction. Notably, the role of fathers in the family has seen significant changes, as their authority based solely on their "father" status no longer guarantees dominance. Although families in contemporary China are more egalitarian, empirical studies demonstrate that women still lack equal rights within the family. While women tend to make routine decisions, men often make unconventional decisions regarding important matters. However, despite having more real power, many fathers remain surprisingly silent in the daily lives of modern Chinese families, particularly in their interactions with emerging adult children. This contradiction challenges the previous understanding of using discourse to influence or dominate others.

Existing research on father silence in China primarily focuses on the analysis of film, television, and literary works, with limited real-life studies available. These studies can be categorized into three paradigms: (1) father silence as a metaphor for weakened power and the decline of the old family system; (2) father silence as a manifestation of the father's struggle to adapt to the needs of modern families and fulfill their role; and (3) silence as a masculine temperament, with the father's silence being an external manifestation of personal temperament. However, little research has examined how emerging adults respond to and shape their fathers' silence from an internal perspective within real Chinese society.

Research Questions:
What are the manifestations of father silence in modern Chinese families?
What are the underlying reasons for father silence within the family?
How do emerging adults respond to their fathers' silence and construct family intimacy?

Methodology:
This study adopts a qualitative approach to investigate father silence and its impact on intimate family relationships. We conducted semi-structured interviews lasting from 40 to 60 minutes with 8 participants aged 18-25 from middle-class families. All participants maintain close contact with their families and live with their parents whenever possible. Some rely on their parents for financial support, while others require family assistance in purchasing housing and other assets. Qualitative content analysis, following Mayring's method (2014), and conversation analysis, based on Sack's approach (1992), will be employed to analyze the interview data. This methodology will provide in-depth insights into how each family responds to and constructs their fathers' silence.

Preliminary Findings:
Based on initial coding and thematic analysis of the interview dialogues, the study has yielded the following preliminary findings:

Firstly, father silence is a prevalent and accepted phenomenon in modern Chinese families, with interviewees expressing their familiarity with and even a sense of low fatherly presence due to their fathers' long-standing silence.
Second, father silence carries different meanings, and there may be discrepancies in understanding silence between fathers and other family members. Some interviewees believe that fathers tend to express their dissatisfaction through silence when conflicts arise, which can exacerbate family conflicts and hinder the construction of family intimacy, while fathers believe that silence can quickly end or avoid arguments.
Third, silent fathers are often made in the family through a series of interlocking family interactions, rather than the father's own subjective choices. When fathers want to break their silence and join family dialogues between mother and adult children, they are often ignored or even explicitly refused, making it difficult for them to participate in family conversations.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this study contributes to the understanding of how modern Chinese families respond to and construct their fathers' silence in family life. The findings suggest that father's silence is a complex phenomenon that represents different meanings for different family members and is often a product of interlocking family interactions. The study provides insights into the challenges of constructing intimate relationships within modern Chinese families and highlights the need for further research on this topic.

Authors

• ZI YE, East China Normal University

• Hongyan Chen, Faculty of Education, East China Normal University