Migrant youths in Beijing: a life history analysis of class reproduction

Abstract

This study utilizes life history analysis to explore the class reproduction process among migrant youths in Beijing, the capital city of China. Eight migrant youths were interviewed about their life histories using a life-line interview methodology. Results showed that these migrant youths could be classified into four groups based on their residential location and the duration of their residence in Beijing, each representing distinctive characteristics. Limited family educational background, poor quality of school education and unstable community environment were common experiences among the youths. In addition, the hukou system and other social policies that restricted education opportunities for these migrant youths contributed to the class reproduction process. Thus, the current education system, family background and social policy all adversely affect the opportunities of migrant youths to choose different life paths from their parents. This article then offers suggestions for changes in policy formulation and social services to improve social mobility for migrant youths.

本文运用生命史分析，探索在中国北京的农民工子女阶级再生产的过程。通过采取生命线访谈法，深度访谈了8位农民工子女的生命故事。研究发现，根据访谈对象在北京的居住地和居住时长，可将他们归为四类不同特征的群体。而家庭教育的缺失、较差的学校教育质量以及不稳定的社区环境，是这些访谈对象都具有的相似经历。此外，中国的户籍制度以及相关的其它社会政策，也限制了这些访谈对象的受教育机会，进而促使他们的阶级再生产。因此，现有的教育体制，家庭背景以及社会政策等均阻碍了他们选择与他们父辈们不一样的生活路径。最后，本文针对如何促进农民工子女的社会流动，在社会服务和政策制定等方面提出了一些建议。

Keywords:

• migrant youths
• migrant families
• class reproduction
• life history analysis
• hukou policy
• China

Notes

1. Hukou is basically a resident permit given by the government of China. It is issued on a family basis. Every family has a hukou booklet that records information about the family members, including name, birth date, relationship with each other, marriage status (and with whom, if married), address, etc. Everyone in China has a hukou.

2. A concept in mathematics to describe four quadrants divided by a horizontal axis and vertical axis in a rectangular plane coordinate system.

3. At that time, S1 had just transferred to her hometown's public school in Shandong province. She came to Beijing for the summer holiday with her family and joined the summer camp together with her younger brother. This was how I got to know her, although she was not studying in any migrant school at the time.

4. Please see the official website of China Research and Development Network: http://polyucrdn.eksx.com/load.php?link_id = 33375.