Parents' and Children's Perceptions of Privacy Rights In China: A Cohort Comparison

This study employs a Chinese sample to explore children's privacy rights within the family. For the purpose of comparison, parental views of children's privacy rights and children's own perceptions are examined. Privacy rights are defined to include three spheres--spatial, physical, and mental. Results show that age differences in perceptions of privacy rights exist not only between generations but also between the junior high and senior high school students. However, the three cohorts are relatively consistent in their ratings of aspects of privacy rights. Gender differences are manifest in the mental sphere of privacy and move in the opposite directions, with the male students valuing their privacy rights less but the male parents respecting them more. Perceptions of privacy rights also differ dependent on whether "privacy" is defined as rights or secrets. Developmental and cultural perspectives are employed to examine these findings. (Contains 3 tables.)