Structural and Cultural Mechanisms of Childcaring Labor in China: Neoliberalism, Confucian Ethics, and Motherhood Negotiation

Di Xu, Meixi Peng, Zitao Lei, School of Journalism and Information Communication, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Philosophy and Social Sciences Laboratory of Big Data and National Communication Strategy, Ministry of Education

Journal of Family Issues

Published online on January 22, 2026

Abstract

Journal of Family Issues, Ahead of Print.
This study critically examines how neoliberal market logic and Confucian ethics intertwine to shape motherhood roles in China, revealing the negotiation mechanisms of gendered childcaring responsibilities under structural constraints and cultural norms. ...