![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
ThePost-'80s[a] orPost-1980s is a Chinese colloquial term referring to thegeneration inMainland China born between 1980 and 1989, especially in urban cities, after the introduction of theone-child policy. It is the Chinese counterpart to the earlyGeneration Y in theWestern World,[1] the first post-Cultural Revolution generation, and the first to grow up entirely within theReform era. The Post-80s currently ranges from age35 to45, making up a major portion of China's workingyoung adult demographic.
In English, this group is also sometimes calledChina'sGeneration Y after the use of the term in the bookChina’s Generation Y by Michael Stanat in 2005 (though he references the dates 1981–1995[2]).[3]
It is ageneration of approximately 240 million people born between 1980 and 1990, although characteristics of the after-eighty generation have also been seen in those born in the 1990s. Growing up in modern China, this generation has been characterized by its optimism for the future, newfound excitement forconsumerism,entrepreneurship, and acceptance of its historic role in transforming modern China into aneconomicsuperpower.
These people are also distinguished by their increased access to digital media such ascomputers,MP3 players andmobile phones. Post-'80ers in China often experience a palpablegeneration gap between them and their elders; while their parents lived during theMao Zedong era, experienced famine andpolitical instability and lack propereducation because of the policies set forth under theCultural Revolution, they live in an environment of tremendouseconomic growth andsocial change, hightechnology, and rigorous education standards. There is also a significant generation gap between them and Post-'90, who are even more thoroughly entrenched in digitality and capitalism.
A clash between tradition and modern influences is noticeable in purchasing habits,career pursuits, and daily interaction between child and elders. Furthermore, young adults have been indirectly affected by forced government shutdowns of thousands ofInternet bars each year that prevent the excessive use ofthe Internet. Young people are also affected by China's large socioeconomic divide between urban and rural residents and societal problems resulting frommodernization.
The Post-'80 generation illuminates important questions not only about China's future but also those of the United States and the global economy. Several factors that may influence the generation are individualism,consumerism, modernization, andtechnology.[5][6][7]
This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(November 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
When parents over-indulge theironly child, who has no siblings as a result of theOne Child Policy, the indulged children may be referred to as "little emperors" (小皇帝;xiǎohuángdì). Many Chinese families have the4-2-1 format: 4 grandparents, 2 parents, one child. Parents and grandparents eat less and spend less money on themselves, only so the youngster could feel physically and mentally strong, focus on one's studies and be successful later on in life.[8]
Almost all Chinese families usually adopt a set of traditionalConfucian values when raising their only child.[citation needed] BecauseConfucianism considersRen (仁; love and social responsibility) the coreemotion that develops moral conceptions into genuine personalmotivation[citation needed], a child who has received too much familial attention but also endured high mental and physical restrictions because the economic future of the family depends on their academic success directly leads to a situation that is often considered in academic and popular discourse as over-indulging the children, in opposition to concepts ofRen andfilial piety (孝;xiao). There is substantial evidence that many young Chinese feel a heavy burden[9] and a huge responsibility towards their parents, understanding that their performances in school or other domains can be of crucial consequences towards their family.[8]
Depending on the specific family conditions and children's mental healthy condition, this burden could lead to a diligent lifestyle by youngsters or to a more rebellious attitude to traditional Confucian codes or not being able to cope with such pressure nor develop self-discipline.[10]
While being nurtured by parents and relatives gives children some clear advantages and opportunities, the fact that a child doesn't have siblings who 'compete' with him or her in a younger age could also lead to some psychological difficulties as the child grows. "Lacking adapting capabilities" (Chinese:没有适应能力;pinyin:méiyǒu shìyìng nénglì) is a description which is commonly associated with the new post-'80 generation.[10] Since such children don't need to put any efforts in order to gain parents' attention or to win family resources, they develop no competitive abilities and have weak social skills once they are older and need to be self-sufficient.
Traditionally seen as a rite of passage, marriage has been linked as milestones to adulthood. Yet, the Chinese millennials are late bloomers when it comes to marriage. Although some members of the millennials are well in their 30s, statistics show they are still living their lives as bachelors or bachelorettes.[citation needed]
Having grown up in times of modernconsumerism and popular media, rather than the ideals of theCultural Revolution, many single-children are inclined to spend large amounts of money on themselves and thus are a cornerstone of retail sales.[11] Families which are well-off economically sometimes allow their children to indulge in the new materialistic sphere, while poorer families often still make efforts to keep their children inside the consumers' race, allowing them to purchase new clothes, new cell-phone brands, etc.[citation needed].
Post-'80 in Hong Kong and the after-eighty generation in mainland China are for the most part different.[12] The term Post-'80 (Chinese:八十後) came into use inHong Kong between 2009 and 2010, particularly during the course of theopposition to the Guangzhou-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, during which a group of young activists came to the forefront of the Hong Kong political scene.[13] They are said to be "post-materialist" in outlook, and they are particularly vocal in issues such as urban development, culture and heritage, and political reform. Their campaigns include the fight for the preservation ofLee Tung Street, theStar Ferry Pier and theQueen's Pier, Choi Yuen Tsuen Village, real political reform, and a citizen-orientedWest Kowloon Cultural District. Their discourse mainly develops around themes such asanti-colonialism,sustainable development, anddemocracy.
According to the Canadian Census, among the population that was never married, there was a large increase in the proportions for those in their 20s and 30s in 2011 in comparison to 1981. For young adults aged 25 to 29, the proportion who were never married increased from 26.0% of the population in 1981 to close to 73.1% in 2011. Even among individuals in their early 30s, the proportion of men who were never married increased from 15.0% in 1981 to 54.0% in 2011. For women, the increase was from 10.5% in 1981 to 43.4% in 2011.