A qualitative study on the social support networks of the 27 Chinese working mothers in a Beijing neighbourhood was carried out. The networks are communal and different from those of the West. They are characterized by a mutual sharing and holistic provision of support resources among network members; a rigid boundary between “insiders” and “outsiders”; reciprocity throughout the life course; and a common aspiration for harmony among members. The social and cultural forces behind the networks and the implications of the networks for social work intervention are also discussed.
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