Citation:
Jiang, Q., & Sánchez-Barricarte, J. J. (2013). Socio-Demographic Risks and Challenges of Bare-Branch Villages in China. Asian Social Work and Policy Review, 7 (2), pp. 99-116.
xmlui.dri2xhtml.METS-1.0.item-contributor-funder:
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
Sponsor:
This work is jointly supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,
the 985-3 Project of Xi’an Jiaotong University, and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness
(CSO2012-31206).
Project:
Gobierno de España. CSO2012-31206
Keywords:
Bare branch
,
China
,
Collective action
,
Marriage migration
,
Sex ratio
,
Social network
China’s bare branches, the Chinese name for surplus men, have attracted much attention, yet few
studies have focused on the increasing phenomenon of bare-branch villages. In this literature
review, the formation of bare-branch villages, the impact of such viChina’s bare branches, the Chinese name for surplus men, have attracted much attention, yet few
studies have focused on the increasing phenomenon of bare-branch villages. In this literature
review, the formation of bare-branch villages, the impact of such villages on individual bare
branches and their families, and potential threats to villages and families are analyzed. It was found
that the sex ratio and female marriage migration to prosperous areas are the two main determinants
of the formation of bare-branch villages. Individual bare branches in such villages are
affected both physically and psychologically and are isolated in social activities. Their families and
villages suffer in many ways. Bare branches may accelerate the spread of sexually transmitted diseases
and increase the incidence of criminal behavior and violence. Even worse, because bare
branches in a village share many bonds, they may take collective actions that can endanger China’s
social stability.[+][-]