Gender Differences in Cross-border Work in China: Some Consequences for Family Health

Cross-border work may have a damaging effect on the well-being of a family and the situation may be related to gender differences. This paper is based on in-depth interviews with 40 Hong Kong workers who are working in China, to study the gender differences in response to cross-border work and its consequences for the family well-being. The issue of extra-marital relationships and sexual infidelity due to cross-border work will be discussed in detail and George Simmel’s concept of social geometry will be used as a conceptual frame. This paper will concentrate on: (1) why workers choose cross-border work? (2) how ‘crossing-borders ’ and ‘distance ’ engender extra-marital relation-ships / sexual infidelity and in turn effect the health of a family? (3) how cross-border workers par-ent their children and (4) the gender differences in response to work, family and extra-marital rela-tionships. Economic development and globalisation make Mainland China the factory of the world. Globalization also provides more chances for outsiders to engage in cross-border work. In the last decade, a number of Hong Kong’s local manufacturing activities have already moved to China to meet the global demands and to better survive under keen competition. In recent years, the Hong Kong SAR Government also encouraged Hong Kong people to work in China. Although working in China is already a trend for many Hong Kong people, cross-border work may have a damaging effect on the well-being of families. According to the reports of Hong Kong newspapers, it is easy for males to engage i