'Mommy's boy' debate rages on social media(2)

Female roles

Chen, first author of the report and a doctoral candidate in cross-cultural communication at Curtin University, said that in a Chinese family, women are expected to play three roles.

"The first is being a man's sex object. The second is to have children and pass on the family line, while the third is to act as caregiver for the family. These three roles limit women's social function solely to the family," Chen said.

She added that despite the fact that women have greater educational opportunities than previously, they still take on greater responsibility for childbirth and rearing children.

Chen also said that mothers-in-law are increasingly playing bigger roles in small families. They often become overly involved in such families and take care of the children. They also take on the role and responsibility of the father, who is often absent, she said.

Instead of viewing the man's mother as an overbearing and domineering figure, it would be better to appreciate her as taking on additional responsibility to compensate for the missing fatherly presence in a family, Chen added.

The scholars feel that complex Chinese family relationships are linked to how much power one particular member of a family has.

They point out that male dominance is still prevalent in relationships between couples in China, and that seniors tend to enjoy more privileges and higher social status regardless of the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law or between parents and children.

Gong said: "In an environment where males are prioritized, it is commonplace to observe the emergence of the 'mommy's boy'. He is not only looked on highly by his mother, but also serves as a pivotal figure in the household, as he is the one to continue the family line. As such, the 'mommy's boy' represents a considerable asset to the entire family, resulting in him being given favors.

"This will lead to him becoming more self-centered and developing a special kind of narcissistic personality, in which he is defiant, lacks empathy, and feels that everything he has gained is rightfully deserved. It's also difficult to imagine him respecting women when he grows up."