This article conceptualizes recent family transformations in China as the rise of neo-familism, analyzed through a private life approach. It argues that neo-familism is not merely a revival of traditional familism but rather an adaptive, individualized phenomenon shaped by intergenerational dependence, shifting emotional norms, and evolving socioeconomic pressures. By introducing conceptual tools such as the inverted family, intergenerationality, ethics of familial affection, reflectivity and self-awareness, and improvisational strategies, the article enriches scholarly understanding of contemporary Chinese family dynamics. It highlights new familial norms emphasizing child-centeredness, intensive intergenerational intimacy, and parent–child identity integration, thereby challenging conventional notions of filial piety and kinship structures. By exploring the tension between individual happiness and collective family prosperity, the article prompts reconsideration of neo-familism’s sustainability and ethical implications. Ultimately, it questions whether neo-familism represents a stable cultural shift or simply a transitional strategy responding to China’s distinct historical and socioeconomic context.
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