Mom sharing

• Source: Global Times
• [10:40 July 20 2010]
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The generation gap

Zhang Xiaoling has not talked about pinyang to her parents as she believes they will not support her. "They don't understand why I want my personal space. They think it is natural to put all your time and energy into your child," she said. As an only child, she used to spend most of her time alone before she got married. Sociologist Hu Shoujun understands the way she feels. The gap between Zhang and her parents is a reflection of China's rapid social change, according to Hu. "China's society has changed so much; these two generations grew up in very different circumstances," Hu explained. Zhang's parents used to raise their children by themselves."So it is normal for them to think parents should do it alone," Hu said.

Director Ma believes that work stress contributes to the fact that young parents want more space. "Work today is much more stressful than before. Young parents' need for freedom is a reflection of them wanting to escape stress," Ma said.

The situation for young parents in modern society is tougher than ever before. On one hand, parents have more stress from work. On the other hand, they don't have siblings to help them. "Raising a child has changed. In times gone by, parents could leave their children with their siblings' children. But it's almost impossible now because most young parents are the only children," said Ma. "I so wish I could have a sister or a brother. I feel helpless sometimes," Zhang said. She does not want to ask friends for help. "They are not family, you always feel like you owe them something," she said.