Cherished sons and considerate daughters? Claims to resettlement housing in the urbanizing Eastern China

Abstract

China’s urbanization has led to massive demolition and resettlement projects on the edge of the expanding cities, moving affected villagers into resettlement housing. This study examines the consequent changes in family property structures, focusing on how resettlement housing was redistributed between sons and daughters. This study draws on fieldwork in the suburban area of an expanding city in Shandong, Eastern China, and analyzes in-depth interviews about how resettlement housing was divided in families that had (1) both sons and daughters, (2) sons only, and (3) daughters only. The findings suggest that the sons’ privilege in receiving housing properties was more salient in families with more children (three children or above) and with both sons and daughters. In small families (with one or two children) or daughter-only families, it was more likely for siblings’ needs and daughters’ contributions to be mentioned in the division of properties; when daughters adjusted their family roles, such as assuming the role of the ‘heir,’ their negotiation for inheritance rights changed. Built on studies about how local governments and rural communities have ignored or reproduced gender inequality in property structures in urbanization, this study illustrates how gendered access to housing varies across family structures.