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Perceptions and expectations of filial piety among older Chinese immigrants in Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2020

Weiguo Zhang Open the ORCID record for Weiguo Zhang [Opens in a new window]
Weiguo Zhang*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
*
*Corresponding author. Email: weiguo.zhang@utoronto.ca
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Abstract

Much of the literature discusses filial piety in general and ambiguous terms. This study, in contrast, investigates specific perceptions of filial piety and parental expectations of filial duty among older Chinese immigrants in Canada. The study is based on thematic analysis of 46 Chinese immigrants in seven focus groups conducted in the Greater Toronto Area. Findings show the perceptions of filial piety varied, but almost all participants had reduced expectations of their children. Nevertheless, they still valued and expected emotional care from their children. The study argues that changes in institutional settings, social policies and welfare systems define parents’ support needs and affect their expectations in the host society, while norms and institutional settings in the place of origin influence their perceptions of filial piety.

Keywords

filial pietyimmigrantsChineseCanada
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 42 , Issue 3 , March 2022 , pp. 497 - 520
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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