男孩偏好与父权制的制度安排——中国出生性别比失衡的性别分析

出生性别比失衡是中国突出的社会问题,其背后与男孩偏好紧密相关。本文通过6个省的实证调查,揭示出生性别比失衡的根本原因是父权制的三大要素:一是从夫居的婚居制度,二是父子相承的财产继承制度,三是父子相传的姓氏继承制度。这3项制度不仅仅是历史,更是司空见惯的现实;不仅仅是文化观念,更是强制性的资源分配制度安排;不仅仅是家庭和村规民约的相互作用,更是政府的默认和法律的不作为。由此揭示中国当代社会性别制度的结构方式。

Son Preference and Patriarchal Systems： Empirical and Gender Analysis of the Imbalance in Sex Ratio at Birth inChina

The imbalance in sex ratio at birth is an outstanding social issue in China,whose connection the practice of son preference is intrinsic.This paper utilizes empirical research in six provinces to identify the three elements of patriarchal system as the root causes of the imbalance in sex ratio at birth.These are the patrilocal practice,the father-to-son property inheritance practice,and the father-to-son family name inheritance practice.These three customs not only come from history but also are omnipresent today.They exist as values that have been enforced through the systems of distribution of resources.Such enforcement takes place not only through family and village rules and regulations but also by way of government’s acquiescence and inaction.Such is the structure of gender systems in China.