Seeking Stability in China's "Involuted Generation"

Authors

  • Yuchen Liang St. Lawrence University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15273/jue.v14i1.12047

Abstract

In recent years, the word “involution” (Nei Juan) has become a popular word in Chinese society to refer to the great competitive
pressure young people in China now face in their life such as passing the college entrance examination and searching for a
job. They are called the “involuted generation.” To study the involution phenomenon, I conducted eleven semi-structured
interviews with students, parents, and teachers in Zhejiang Province in China. This study also explores the causes and effects
of the phenomenon of involution by combining online research and a literature review. I argue that the pursuit of stability
produces the present involution while the college entrance examination and differences in family background create different degrees of involution which intensifies the stress of competition. The effects of involution include anxiety and
tension for both students and parents brought on by competition, the devaluation of academic qualifications in the job
market, and the gap young people experience between their interests and careers.

Wedding of Chandni Sakhrani's Mother. Photo by Sanjay Nichani.

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Published

2024-02-19

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Articles

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