Chinese spouses' empowerment through community communication: a case study of the Chinese Association of Relief and Ensuing Service

Abstract

This research examines the narratives of mainland Chinese spouses regarding their participation in a Taiwanese organization and their experience and adaptation to a new life in Taiwan. Fourteen spouses, members of a Taiwanese organization called Chinese Association for Relief and Ensuing Service (CARES), completed in-depth interviews. Qualitative analysis identified prominent themes in participants’ responses in relation to three main subjects: community communication, participation, and empowerment. Analysis revealed that organizational com- munication techniques were applied in community communication. Semi- horizontal and bottom-up approaches were identified. This condition also appeared in the process of mainland Chinese spouses’ participation and empowerment. The participation of women in community communication was only partially realized. The same can be said about empowerment, which was achieved mainly at the psychological level. The study offered a list of possible factors which could be related to the partial development of empowerment and participation, including cultural, organizational, and personal factors. Based on these findings, suggestions to the service organization and mainland Chinese spouses have been proposed.