Invisible Gender Inequality in Rural China: Exploring the Reasons for Son Preference and Daughter  Preference

Invisible Gender Inequality in Rural China: Exploring the Reasons for Son Preference and Daughter Preference

Huimin Zhang

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Invisible Gender Inequality in Rural China: Exploring the Reasons for Son Preference and Daughter Preference

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Abstract

Son preference seems to be disappearing in the current discursive environment, replaced by the emergence of daughter preference in social communication. Different from previous studies of son preference in China that focus on quantitative data, this paper is based on an ethnographic study of a remote rural village in Shanxi Province, China. Through the use of participant observation, focus groups, and semi-structured interviews, the paper concludes that patriarchal systems persist, and son preference develops dynamically. Among others, the author concludes that (1) the patriarchal system is a necessary foundation for the existence of son preference, (2) the concealment of son preference is an aftereffect of gender reproductive selection and a major variable of marital stress, and (3) daughter preference is a variant of traditional gender expectations.

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Funding

No external funding was declared for this work.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

No ethics committee approval was required for this article type.

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Not applicable for this article.

How to Cite This Article

Huimin Zhang. 2026. \u201cInvisible Gender Inequality in Rural China: Exploring the Reasons for Son Preference and Daughter Preference\u201d. Unknown Journal GJHSS-C Volume 22 (GJHSS Volume 22 Issue C5): .

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GJHSS Volume 22 Issue C5
Pg. 29- 35

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GJHSS-C Classification: DDC Code: 338.1851 LCC Code: HD2098

Submission ReceivedSeptember 15, 2022
Peer Review Double Blind
Handling Editor
Accepted September 22, 2022
Published September 30, 2022

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October 13, 2022

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