[Paul Phillips]

I was interested to read about changing attitudes and behavior resulting from the shift towards a much more individualized Chinese society. Having never lived in a society that was founded on collective action and joint responsibility, I've always taken individualization for granted. 

The three articles about evolving expectations for mother/daughter relationships, changes to courtship and perceptions of young rural Chinese, revealed how individual needs are being recognized and respected, while responsibility to family obligations remains a very powerful collectivization force. We see that, while arranged marriages are no longer practiced, the influence of the family remains extremley strong when chosing a marriage partner based on introduction or free choice. The increased mobility and economic independence of younger Chinese has blended with Confucian filial piety to create a unique mixture of modern and traditional family values, interactions and decision making.

I was also surprised to see in the "Sub Cultures of China Youth" video that the average age for marriage appears to be lowering rather than increasing, as would be expected in an inceasingly affluent and developed society. The video did not provide an explanation for this - I can only assume that the gender imbalance resulting from the one child policy may have created a sense of urgency amongst young men who fear not being able to find a mate.

 

[Paul Phillips]

Thanks Judy,

I've used the animated charts in Gapminder Tools, as a discussion starter to examine China's relative standard of living (life expectancy and income per capita) over the 19th and 20th centuries. Students see China's dramatic rise and are challenged to identify events that have impacted the standard of living (globally or locally)

https://www.gapminder.org/tools/?from=world#$chart-type=bubbles

[Paul Phillips]

China's declining rate of economic growth (projected for 2019 to around 6.5%) has been a key story over the past few days. I am interested in learning why this is being presented as alarming (both inside and outside China), when major industrialized countries are experiencing growth well below this. Is this decline, following years of double digit growth after China joined the WTO, an inevitable consequence of China's maturing economy and greater prosperity (albeit with substantial inequality), where;

• the service sector (like the Unitred States) now represents over 50% share of the economy,
• consumer spending (like the United States) is an emerging key driver of growth, 
• China's Foreign Direct Investment in other countries through the "Belt and Road" initiative is now exceeding FDI into China,
• China's corporate debt is growing, while it holds substantially more foreign reserves/debt than any other country,
• the population is aging as life expectancy increases (and population growth shrinks as consequence of the expired one child policy),
• and Chinese labor can longer compete globally in the low cost manufacturing sector and so, China looks to develop more valued added income streams (like the United States). 

[Paul Phillips]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47352657

[Paul Phillips]

1. Water - In my initial “Intro to China”, discussion, I show 9th grade students annual rainfall and temperature range maps of China and ask them where they would establish a civilization if they had the choice. Invariably they select the south-east. We then read a few sources about the destructive power of the Hwang He. I then ask my students, “Why was Northern China the cradle of its civilization”, when temperatures are more extreme, annual rainfall is lower and the Hwang He is so dangerous? I’m also interested in exploring the strategic importance of Tibet, as a guaranteed source of water, as a buffer zone and as a safety-valve for the Han population. I'd also like to have students compare the context and uses of major pubic works projects such as the Grand Canal, the Three Gorges Dam and the South-North Canal.
2. One Child Policy - I would like to further explore the severe social challenges stemming from the traditional chinese preference for male children (interesting reference to having a female child is like preparing someone else’s field). My question is; “has the expiration of the One Child Policy in 2016 reduced the gender imbalance or is it exacerbating it?” Are women being re-valued or do they remain de-valued in Chinese society?
3. Hukou System - I’d be interested in having students research the similarities and differences between Chinese internal migration and guest worker practices in other societies (The Bracero Program in the US, Turkish guest workers in Germany during the Cold War or South Asian guest workers in the UAE). In particular, living conditions (e.g. dormitory style accommodation), access to political representation (given limited or no citizenship rights), and the significance of remittances back to the home village or country of origin.

 

[Paul Phillips]

Hi everybody - I'm looking forward to participating.

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