“Four Generations Under One Roof” to “One Child”
F06
Shunzhu Wang
Family is of special importance in Chinese culture, playing a conspicuous role in both the individual and the national identity. Family name comes before personal name; the state is considered one big “country family.” For thousands of years, the image of a happy family had been one with “four generations under one roof.” Since the 1970s, however, the Chinese government has implemented the “one child” policy, which has radically changed the traditional family structure. Why and how was this policy implemented? Why has it been under such critical scrutiny ever since? This course provides students with an opportunity to gain an intimate knowledge of Chinese culture through the changes in its family structure, from the traditional “four generations under one roof” to the modern “three-person family.” Issues to be explored include the relationship between family and individual identity, the traditional definition of women, traditional Maoist feminism, the “one child” policy, and the “little emperor” phenomenon. Students will learn about 200 characters and more words, phrases, and expressions in Pin Yin so that they can participate in simple daily situational dialogues, and also express their opinions on various cultural issues related to the theme of family. Conducted in Chinese.