Relational Harmony: A New Model of Collectivism and Gender Equality Among Chinese American Couples

Abstract

Social harmony is a valued relational rule in collectivism. Using data from in-depth interviews with 20 Chinese American couples, the authors study how husbands and wives interpret and negotiate marital harmony within a multicultural context and how gender relates to this process. Although all participants appear to seek harmony, the result indicates two quite different forms. Structural harmony is based on traditional social norms that emphasize obligation to the whole. Relational harmony is "we-centered" and prioritizes the marriage relationship itself. Not all couples fall neatly in either category; couples in transition experience a push-and-pull process between the multiple influences in their lives. These tensions are explored through six dimensions: (a) conflict between relational and structural goals, (b) communal versus dyadic obligation, (c) unclear authority structure, (d) intersection of family and workplace, (e) harmonizing multiple voices, and

Why Power Matters: Creating a Foundation of Mutual Support in Couple Relationships

“…Cultures also evolve and change. Many of the Chinese American couples with young children that Quek interviewed demonstrated a new, “we‐centered” relational harmony that, in contrast to traditional models of social harmony based on order and hierarchy, prioritized communication and the marriage relationship itself (Quek, Knudson‐Martin, Rue, & Alabiso, ). Clinical efforts to help couples move toward shared relational power (Fishbane, ; Knudson‐Martin & Huenergardt, ) are thus likely to be relevant to people across many cultures.…”

Chinese Values in Supervisory Discourse: Implications for Culturally Sensitive Practices

“…Even though cultural shifts are occurring within many Asian countries (e.g., Lan 2002;Quek 2009;Quek et al 2010), Asian researchers predict that historically meaningful cultural values will continue to play a big role in professional relationships for some time (Leung 2008). This is especially relevant, given China's growing interest in systemic training and the growing number of Asian international students and Asian descendants currently seeking systemic training in non-Chinese contexts (Chao 2011;Mittal and Wieling 2006;Sim and Hu 2009).…”

Toward Relationship‐Directed Parenting: An Example of North American Born Second‐Generation Korean‐American Mothers and their Partners

“…As a result, they emphasized intentionally trying to parent in a more relationally focused way with their own children. Quek, Knudson‐Martin, Rue, and Alabiso () report a similar shift among Chinese Americans. They suggest that integrating individualism with the ideas of collectivism and harmony may make men more willing to accommodate and be child focused.…”