One thing I'm really trying to be more cognizant of is how my Chinese friend circle is weighted towards socioeconomic or cultural elites, relative to the greater population.
I think it can really skew your perception and understanding of China issues.
Aπ§΅to explain:
I think it can really skew your perception and understanding of China issues.
Aπ§΅to explain:
Let me ask rhetorically:
For those of us in this sphere with many CN contacts...How many of your friends have a median Chinese education level? (i.e., only graduated from junior high)
How many of your friends make an average wage for their city? (in SH, that's 11.3k CNY/month)
For those of us in this sphere with many CN contacts...How many of your friends have a median Chinese education level? (i.e., only graduated from junior high)
How many of your friends make an average wage for their city? (in SH, that's 11.3k CNY/month)
How many of your friends only speak Chinese, have never traveled abroad, have never used a VPN? (i.e. a normal, "median" Chinese lifestyle)
I'll tell you honestly for me: I have just ONE. After 10+ years of living here.
(I mean a real friend friend, not an acquaintance)
I'll tell you honestly for me: I have just ONE. After 10+ years of living here.
(I mean a real friend friend, not an acquaintance)
(If you're non-Chinese and have cultivated a robust working-class Chinese friend circle, that's great. I know exceptions will always apply, and I'm happy for you. Please don't be smug in my mentions, thanks)
That means ALL the other CN people I know in business, academia, politics, arts, journalism, etc. are cultural or socioeconomic elites in some way.
Honestly, I think it's normal and understandable, based on my career, my hobbies, my social circles. I'm not ashamed or anything.
Honestly, I think it's normal and understandable, based on my career, my hobbies, my social circles. I'm not ashamed or anything.
But of course this skews my understanding of China and things in China in a certain way.
Even if I'm aware and try to adjust for this, I am bound to have picked up some totally distorted views or just have blind spots.
I'd be lying to myself or you to say otherwise.
Even if I'm aware and try to adjust for this, I am bound to have picked up some totally distorted views or just have blind spots.
I'd be lying to myself or you to say otherwise.
And while it's obviously super hard to avoid skewing toward elite perspectives if you aren't based in China, I'm barely doing much better, and I live here!
It's an awkward reality of the field that we can and should at least try to be aware of, even if there's no easy "fix".
It's an awkward reality of the field that we can and should at least try to be aware of, even if there's no easy "fix".
Because it's way too easy to think you're super in touch with "mainstream" attitudes or perspectives in China on a certain issue, and have tons of data points to back it up
...but your data points were all gathered via people representing a small demographic.
I've done it. π³
...but your data points were all gathered via people representing a small demographic.
I've done it. π³
By the time some perspective or attitude or idea is transmitted from Chinese laobaixing, to Chinese elites, to Western China Hands, to Western media, in a international cross-language, cross-cultural, cross-class game of telephone, we're bound to end up with some...distortions.
Mind you, that's definitely not to say the perspectives of Chinese cultural/socioeconomic elites are bad or invalid or something.
Their perspectives are true enough for them, no doubt. And they wield a lot of influence. But they are still a minority.
Their perspectives are true enough for them, no doubt. And they wield a lot of influence. But they are still a minority.
Perhaps this is part of why China-studies people are so enamored with chatting to the ever-candid Beijing taxi drivers?
Consciously or maybe subconsciously, we know we're hearing something unambiguously fresh and representative of the laobaixing, straight from the mule's mouth.
Consciously or maybe subconsciously, we know we're hearing something unambiguously fresh and representative of the laobaixing, straight from the mule's mouth.
At least for me, I've realized it's a big part of why I've so enjoyed traveling to smaller cities in China, interviewing anyone who will talk to me, and doing those threads or articles about whatever I discover.
Honestly can't wait to get back out there.
Happy weekend everyone.
Honestly can't wait to get back out there.
Happy weekend everyone.
If you'd like to read those articles about my discoveries from traveling around China, then follow my Substack: crossingtheriver.substack.com
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