Hierarchy and Harmony: Daughter/Mother-In-Law Conflicts in Han-Hui-Muslim Intermarried Family

A harmonious family is a central concept in Chinese society, emphasizing collective adaptation, filial submission, suppression of personal desires and emotions, and conflict avoidance.However, cultural orientations and intergenerational differences pose challenges to achieving this ideal, particularly in interethnic and interreligious marriages, where family interactions, especially those between in-laws, are often marked by conflict.This study examines conflict management strategies and identity negotiation among Han daughters-in-law in Han-Hui Muslim intermarried families in China.Findings indicate that conflicts primarily arise in four domains: ethnic differences, religious practices, household responsibilities, and child-rearing.In addition to established Dual Concern Model strategies, this study introduces "acting" as a distinct conflict management strategy, reflecting a specific concern for maintaining harmonious relationships between the two parties.The application of these strategies highlights Han daughters-in-law's resistance to marginalization based on ethnicity and religion, their demand for gender equity and autonomy, and their efforts to sustain familial harmony.While extensive research has been conducted on relationships between genetic relatives, affinal relationships, particularly conflicts between in-laws, have received significantly less scholarly attention.This study contributes to the growing body of literature on affinal conflicts, offering insights into Han-Hui Muslim intermarriages in China.