An Analysis of the Social Security Function of the Mosuo Extended Family
This article examines the "big household" (yidu), a distinctive feature of Mosuo traditional culture, in which multiple generations linked by matrilineal descent live together under one roof, practicing the "walking marriage" custom without formal wedlock. The unique structure of these extended households fosters harmonious family relationships and a diversified, coordinated household economy. In traditional agrarian society, this economic model offered clear advantages, ensuring household stability and relatively high living standards while providing members with reliable material support. Through the Mosuo's enduring family values, ethics of respecting elders and caring for the young, and unique operational mechanisms, big households effectively guarantee material provision, daily care, and emotional comfort for the elderly, children, sick, and disabled, forming a miniature, harmonious social security system. Despite pressures from market economy and external cultural influences, this mechanism remains effective today, offering valuable insights for improving China's modern social security system.
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