Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
This book compares aspirations and life-choices among educated young adults in urban China and Taiwan. As two places that share a cultural heritage but very different political and economic systems, it assesses how the socioeconomic and political trajectories of China and Taiwan have influenced young people's decision-making and the strategies they apply to realise their goals.
Drawing upon ethnographic research, this book analyzes young adults' choices in the areas of education, career and marriage, considering their individual social backgrounds and economic resources. In this context, it also discusses how feelings of hope, doubt and disenchantment are mitigated by the specific societal atmospheres and ideological discourses. Whereas stable employment and marriage appeared to be universal goals, this book demonstrates how young adults in Beijing had more autonomy in decision-making than those in Taipei. Among other things, China's demographic controls and urban migration policies appear to increase the independence of young people. Further, the prevalence of boarding school education in China compared to Taiwan provides an opportunity for earlier autonomy for young people in China.
Taking a comparative approach, Young Adults in Urban China and Taiwan will be a valuable resource to students and scholars of Chinese Studies and Taiwan Studies, as well as social and cultural anthropology and youth culture.
Synopsis
This book compares aspirations and life-choices among highly educated young adults in urban China and Taiwan: places that, at least notionally, share a cultural heritage while having very different political and economic systems. It assesses how the different socioeconomic and political trajectories of China and Taiwan have influenced young people's decision-making and the strategies they apply to realise their goals. Drawing upon 18 months of ethnographic research, this book analyzes young adults'choices in the areas of education, career and marriage under consideration of their individual social backgrounds and economic resources. In this context it also discusses how feelings of hope, doubt and disenchantment are mitigated by the specific societal atmospheres and ideological discourses.