Chapter 13: Moving Together or Living Apart: Cross-Border Couples Between Hong Kong and Shenzhen Under The COVID-19 Pandemic^*

Previous studies have documented how unexpected macro social changes such as an economic crisis or a global pandemic affected family life, intensifying family responsibilities and activating family support systems. This study examines how young cross-border couples between Hong Kong and Shenzhen decided to move together or live apart when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted commuting and led to family separation. Based on interviews with 22 women, this study finds that many women emphasized individualistic desires, self-development, or relationship satisfaction when the couples chose to live apart. When the couples decided to move together, it was more common for the wife than the husband to quit their jobs and move for a family reunion; when the husband compromised his career for a family reunion, the wife often faced family pressure and felt the urge to compensate for their “deviation.” The emphasis on self-development as a fallback position and the gendered contribution to the family support system speak to Western theories about individualization and detraditionalization and suggest mixed trends of family changes in China.