本研究是採用質化研究方法以深度訪談進行資料收集,針對台灣二十二位有婆媳關係存在的中產階層已婚婦女,探討她們在與婆婆的互動過程中之經驗及切身感受。研究目的是藉由婆媳之互動經驗來瞭解台灣在社會變遷下中產階層已婚婦女於家庭中之樣態以及婆媳互動關係及權力結構變化為何?訪談次數1~3次不等,以錄音方式錄下整個訪談過程,在資料整理後並以持續性比較分析法加以分析。 分析結果找出中產階層之家庭圖像:描寫勾繪參與者家庭的主要面貌,其中呈現的五大主題為:一、上下之分;二、內外有別;三、大小不一;四、樹大分支;五、文化反哺。本研究顯示台灣雖然歷經現代化之社會變遷,但大部分的參與者家庭仍保有相當傳統文化之父系家族色彩,婆媳互動關係及權力結構會隨著家庭之生命週期而變化消長,婆媳權力轉移在家庭生命週期似有提前之現象。婆媳對家庭界域不一是最大衝突,且現代已婚婦女因教育及經濟獨立而自主性強,對婆婆有文化反哺能力提供婆婆健康知識及調整其生活態度。
By analyzing the interaction, this study investigates the role of middle class married Taiwanese women and the power between them and their mothers-in-law, Qualitative methodology was followed and in-depth interviews were conducted to collect data. Twenty-two middle class married women who had relationship with their mothers-in-law were interviewed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and then analyzed by consistent content analysis. The family image emerge from the data: Family image describes the interaction patterns between married women and their mothers-in-law. Themes of “family image” include: 1) dominant power of mothers-in-law, 2) different treatments to insiders and outsiders, 3) is ‘she’ our family member, 4) generation replacement, 5) cultural feedback. The results show that the patrilineal society still exists in modern Taiwan. The interaction patterns and the power configuration between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law will change with family life cycle. Transfer of domestic power is advanced to an earlier time. Different views of whether mother-in-law is a member in their family often bring married women and their mothers-in-law into big conflicts. Since high education and economic independence helps modern married women can give cultural feedback to their mothers-in-law by providing health knowledge, adjust their attitudes.