Abstract: Based on the in-depth interview data of 56 cases in Henan, Jiangxi, and Sichuan provinces, this paper constructs a demand-oriented model of a care service system for rural left-behind women through three-level coding with Grounded Theory approach. It is found that the needs satisfaction of rural left-behind women is still largely focused on the “scarcity needs”, and less related to the “growth needs”. Combined with the theory of social support and hierarchy of needs, the study holds that the construction and improvement of the care service system for rural left-behind women urgently require the cooperation and participation of multiple forces, such as the state, society, and family. Efforts are also needed from the multiple forces to provide rural left-behind women with primary services such as family livelihood, basic life, health care, family care, children’s education, labor production, emotional care, and cultural activities. Further, the care service system also needs to attach importance to rural left-behind women’s self-esteem and self-realization needs, guide the establishment of advanced gender culture concepts, strengthen targeted employment and entrepreneurship services, help them to improve their physical and mental health and quality of life, and then make them the promoters and beneficiaries of the rural revitalization strategy.

Key words: rural left-behind women, care service system, Grounded Theory, social support, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs