Since the 1980s, China has witnessed a remarkable transformation, lifting over 800 million people out of poverty and creating a burgeoning middle class estimated at 400 million. However, as the country’s economic growth decelerates, so too does the dream of social mobility for many young individuals from humble beginnings.
One such individual, Boris Gao, reflects the disheartening reality faced by countless his age. His family was hard hit when his parents lost their jobs at state-owned enterprises; his father turned to taxi driving, while his mother returned home to care for the family, struggling financially. To save pennies, she discontinued a vital text service that alerted Boris to essential school communications, leaving him at a disadvantage.
Despite his determination, which led him through college and even a graduate program in Hong Kong, Boris’s job search has been fraught with obstacles. Companies have turned him away, sometimes not because of lack of skill but due to the stigma surrounding his origins and education outside of mainland China. He faced a particularly demoralizing experience when a potential employer inquired about his parents' occupations, using that as a basis to deem him "politically unreliable."
"The message was clear: perseverance equates to inadequacy," Boris recounted, highlighting a stark disconnect between effort and opportunity in today's China. The hardened realities of the labor market are replacing the hopeful narrative of hard work leading to success, leaving many feeling that their dreams are now beyond reach.
One such individual, Boris Gao, reflects the disheartening reality faced by countless his age. His family was hard hit when his parents lost their jobs at state-owned enterprises; his father turned to taxi driving, while his mother returned home to care for the family, struggling financially. To save pennies, she discontinued a vital text service that alerted Boris to essential school communications, leaving him at a disadvantage.
Despite his determination, which led him through college and even a graduate program in Hong Kong, Boris’s job search has been fraught with obstacles. Companies have turned him away, sometimes not because of lack of skill but due to the stigma surrounding his origins and education outside of mainland China. He faced a particularly demoralizing experience when a potential employer inquired about his parents' occupations, using that as a basis to deem him "politically unreliable."
"The message was clear: perseverance equates to inadequacy," Boris recounted, highlighting a stark disconnect between effort and opportunity in today's China. The hardened realities of the labor market are replacing the hopeful narrative of hard work leading to success, leaving many feeling that their dreams are now beyond reach.
