Dividing Rather Than Dispersing: Spatial Practice And Relationship Reconstruction Of Chinese Families In The New Era ——Taking W City As An Example

When Chinese society entered a transition period,Chinese structure also changed.Lots of middle-aged couples and elderly parents in many families have changed from living together to living separately.Although they chose to live separately,they still maintain a stable and high frequency of interaction,have more intersections in life,and have the phenomenon of mutual help in life.At the same time,the addresses where they live are often kept at a "just right" distance to ensure that both sides can participate in each other’s lives while having separate lives.In view of this phenomenon,this study selects three families in W City,Anhui Province,as the research objects,observes and interviews the change process of these three families from cohabitation to separate residence,interprets the spatial practice of family members,explores the reasons for this choice of family members,and analyzes their action logic.From the perspective of family space,this study observes and records the practice patterns of family members when they live together and when they live separately from four aspects:spatial understanding,spatial participation,spatial assignment,and spatial construction.The reconstruction of the family space caused by the changes in the family space,as well as the redefinition,extension and practical changes of the family space caused by the reconstruction.Finally,the causes of social background,regional culture,family education and personal choice are analyzed in the process of family space reconstruction,and the action logic of family space practice and the changes in family member relationships are summarized.This study argues that the process of reconstructing family space reflects the coexistence of rational choices and perceptual dependence of family members,and the family wisdom of members is contained in this family change in response to social transformation.The action logic of family members contains rational considerations and emotional dependence: rational consideration is the consideration of material costs and communication costs,family members help each other’s lives and maintain their independence;emotional dependence is the subconscious sense of belonging to the family as a family member.At the same time,it also reflects the family wisdom that people have explored in spatial practice to make the family more harmonious,the family relationship more intimate,and the family conflict to be reduced.In the end,a family relationship of "dividing rather than dispersing" is produced.This choice is a compromise between individuals balancing family life experiences and jointly coping with social risks,and it is also an important countermeasure to adapt to the social environment in which individuation and social risks coexist.