Older women had to go through traditional arranged marriages and now have some power as a result of their age and uterine families. Separation of boys and girls, as in the clearly defined and separated roles of a Confucian family, is an issue seen among both the rural peasants and the educated city-folk. Older children do not even talk to the opposite sex. Between educated parents, however, equality is closer to reality. In this way, the paternal family connection remains.
Children are also more independent, but still restrained by Confucian ideas.
Many children also dream of doing things other than what their parents have planned for them. Parent's dreams always take precedence. The general outline of the modern Chinese Family remains a Confucian one, though changed in the details. Such changes within the framework allow the structure to fit into China's varied cultural landscape. In cities, places of constant new ideas, children and women can develop their independence more quickly as the idea of such things quickly becomes yesterdays news.