Economist Podcasts Going non-nuclear: East Asia’s changing families
Aug 28, 2023
Noah Snyder, Tokyo Bureau Chief for The Economist, discusses the evolving family structures in East Asia, where traditional norms are being challenged. He highlights the rise of premarital cohabitation, single parenthood, and two-income households across Japan, South Korea, China, and Taiwan. Snyder shares compelling stories, including that of a South Korean lesbian entrepreneur navigating cultural hurdles. The conversation hints at demographic changes and pressing economic pressures shaping these new family dynamics.
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Shifting Family Structures
- The traditional East Asian family structure (married, mono-ethnic couples with children, men working, women homemakers) is declining.
- This structure, rooted in Confucian values, suited 20th-century urbanization.
Guerrilla Family in South Korea
- In South Korea, Hae-eun Shin interviewed Lee Min-kyung, a lesbian who created a unique family structure.
- Ms. Lee formed "Guerrilla," a company where members (including her partner and adopted daughter) live and work together.
The New Family Landscape
- Cohabitation, same-sex couples, single parents, two-income households, and divorce/remarriage are increasing.
- An aging population adds complexity, with "80-50" or "90-60" families emerging (elderly parents with middle-aged children).