The Emergence of the Neo-Extended Family in Contemporary Taiwan

Abstract

A family circle refers to the collective of spatially-separated households. The dimensions of contact frequency and spatial proximity are used to divide the collective into two circles and four sub-types: (1) core family circle-neo-extended and dispersed family; (2) peripheral family circle- alienated and detached family. After a review of Taiwan’s historical background, the proposed new typology is applied on a nationwide sampling survey. It is found that neo-extended family (with frequent contact and spatial proximity of non-coresident close relatives) is dominant (55.8%) among the four sub-types. Education, wage, adherence to traditional values, and whether family property has been divided or not are all important determinants of the formation of a neo-extended family. It is also found that in a neo-extended family there are more exchanges in instrumental, affection, and financial support than in dispersed, alienated and detached families. The findings suggest that the new typology is useful and appropriate in the study of families in Taiwan.