Migrant grandmothers, left-behind grandfathers: Gender differences in intergenerational relationships among rural older adults in China

This study explores gender differences and dynamics in the intergenerational relationships of rural older adults in China. Drawing on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 22 migrant grandmothers and 11 left-behind older men, conducted in Henan and Shanghai, we find that women who migrate for grandchild care negotiate their membership in their children’s families by exchanging authority for emotional closeness and leveraging their crucial role in intergenerational bonding. While this strategy secures them greater financial support, it also channels them into performing a more traditional feminine role. In contrast, older men left alone in rural areas begin to learn housework, partially disrupting the traditional gendered division of labor. However, their emotional loneliness, a form of ‘masculinity penalty,’ prompts them during brief holiday reunions to break from rigid masculinity and proactively bond with their grandchildren, thus reshaping their grandfatherly image. In summary, migrant grandmothers’ practices signify a continued alignment to traditional gender norms, while left-behind grandfathers partly challenge these norms through self-care and holiday interactions. Critically, these solitary men receive less support from their children than their co-residing female counterparts, which has a detrimental impact on their quality of life in old age.