Ageing, migration and grandparenting in China

The conventional view of older migrants in relation to care often perceives them as passive recipients who are inactive and vulnerable. This study, based on a multi-site qualitative study in contemporary China, sheds light on the experiences of a marginalised group of older people providing care for grandchildren against the backdrop of radical policy shifts in family planning (with the one-child policy replaced by a two-child policy and subsequently a three-child policy) alongside socioeconomic changes associated with urbanisation. We argue that older people, particularly those in better socioeconomic positions, play an active role in the decision-making process of migration and care provision for their migrant children. This involvement occurs in diverse ways and within different social milieus. Chinese migrant families adapt quickly and mobilise resources within the family to maximise the utility of the younger generations. Through this process, intergenerational solidarity may have been strengthened, but at the expense of older generations’ wellbeing. There is a possibility that urbanisation will further reinforce the vulnerability and marginalisation of older women of rural origin, exacerbating their social exclusion. Urgent attention is needed to address the intersectional exclusion and vulnerability of migrant grandparents, considering factors such as gender, social class and patriarchy. It is essential to recognise their significant contributions to the family, community and society, particularly in the context of unpaid care work during the era of the three-child policy.