A Discussion of Bilateral Rearing Based on The Institutions for Reproduction

Abstract

As mentioned in the book The Institutions for Reproduction (Shengyu Zhidu in Chinese) written by Fei Xiaotong, physiologic rearing is unilateral (i.e., physiologic rearing is fully conducted by the mother) while social rearing is bilateral (i.e., both parents foster their child jointly). Because parents have different divisions of labor in life, they may have different levels of influence on the perception, personality, mind, character, and other aspects of their child. The absence of any parent in rearing may leave regrets for the child’s childhood. Nowadays, some typical phenomena are destroying the completeness of the bilateral rearing structure. For instance: Owing to the high divorce rate, many children have to live with one parent; with the heavy pressure of life, one parent or both parents work away from home constantly, while leaving the child at home; some parents even entrust the task of looking after children to a babysitter or child-care center. These social facts are inevitable, but it is quite necessary to try to create a good, healthy, and complete bilateral rearing growth space with mental interaction for children.