Abstract:People think that American family is quite different from Chinese family .In fact， if we take a chronological look at the family， we will find they are much the same in the changing tendency.

Key words:Chinese family American family changing tendency

Ⅰ. similarity in changing tendency of family structure

1.the change of American family structure

In America， before the 1940s， most American families were traditional families. However， at present， the family does not accord with the description of traditional one. \"As is estimated in the 1990s， only 8 percent of American households consist of a working father， a stay-at-home mother， and two children under 18. An additional 18 percent of households consist of two parents who are both working and one more children under the age of 18 living at home. That means that a total of 26 percent of households in the United States consist of two parents and their children. The remaining households consist of the following: 8 percent are single parents and their children; 11percent are unmarried couples and others living together and ， perhaps most startling， in 25 percent of households， there is someone living alone\".

Besides， the divorce rate and remarriage rate are also on the rise. The divorce population now is 3 times more than that of 20 years ago. America has the highest divorce rate in the world.

2.the change of Chinese family structure

Chinese family is relatively stable. However， compared to the time before the 1980s， China really saw great changes in the family structure. Before the open-door policy， getting divorced used to be seen as an embarrassing loss of face and cause for anger and grief by almost all concerned. But nowadays it is generally treated with tolerance and understanding. In addition， the quality of one' sex life， previously considered private， is now often a topic to be discussed openly， and as on standard to measure the quality of a marriage. With these changes of attitude， it is not surprising that many people getting divorced want to make the process as simple and painless as possible， so they do the paperwork at a community office， rather than face off in a court of law. Divorce couples have also learned to understand and respect each other. The attitude of many divorcees has changed from that of animosity to friendship.

Ⅱ.Similarity in the changing tendency of the elderly

1.the increasing number of the elderly in China and America

About seven years ago there were 35 million people over the age of 65 living in America. By the year 2030， it is expected that that number will more than double to around 88 million.

In China， the population of the elderly is about 128 million， the largest in the world. It is estimated that China could have some 400 million people over 60 years of age by 2050.

2.the decreasing status of the elderly in the family

With the industrialization， the skills and knowledge of the elderly often become obsolete. The elderly in America no longer gained great prestige in the family. The elderly have to face many problems. Loneliness is more suffering than physical and psychological abuse for the elderly in America.

Nowadays in China， more and more young adults are moving out， leaving their elderly parents alone. To meet the needs of the elderly， Beijing will adopt a new regulation this year to encourage private and foreign investment in building \"homes for the elderly\".The problems facing China's elderly can be solved through combined efforts from family， the local community， and society as a whole. China's goal is to establish a support network for senior citizens that provides Medicare， helps them avoid loneliness through study and entertainment and encourages them to continue serving society after retirement by using their knowledge.

Ⅲ. similarity in the change of Women’s status in the family

1.the change of women's status in the family of America

In America， on the colonial farms， the wife was typically an essential economic partner and economic supporter of her husband. However， during the industrialization period in America， the women's role becomes emotional and moral rather then economic. After industrialization， women became completely housewives.

But over the last few decades， there have been significant increases in gender equality. With the feminism， women's role in the family has changed. They are no longer satisfied to be just housewives.

The higher social status of women results in the change of women's role in American families. Today， about 10 million American mothers with children under eighteen years of age have jobs， in some families the working mother is a necessity.Then， too， some women want to work even if the family does not need extra income. Once their children are attending school， many women find it boring to stay home alone all day.

2. the change of women's status in the family of China

In the past， the lives of rural women were largely confined to the family context. After establishing the People's Republic of China， the government expanded the education of many rural women and reduced infant mortality through improved medical technology. During the late 70s and early 80s， rural women actively participated in dismantling the collective-commune system and in establishing individual household production. As a result， women's participation in economic activities increased rapidly compared with their lives under the commune system. The sexual division of labor has also been less rigid under the family economy. From open-door policy till now， women join in the work force actively and no longer satisfy to be just full-career housewives. They play a more important role both in the family and the society.

References:

[1]Mei Renyi ．American Studies Reader．Foreign Teaching and Research Press，2002．

[2]Alex Thio．Sociology．Harper Collins College publishers，1999．

（作者單位：浙江醫(yī)藥高等?？茖W(xué)校）