Since the 1980s, China has celebrated more than 800 million citizens escaping poverty, catapulting its middle class to around 400 million. However, the landscape has changed dramatically as economic growth has slowed. The hope for social advancement through hard work is now slipping away for many, particularly among the working class youth.
Individuals like Boris Gao represent the struggles of a disillusioned generation. With his parents losing jobs at state-owned enterprises, Gao's family faced financial strain. His mother, seeking to cut costs, canceled necessary communication services, leading to missed school updates for her son. Despite these challenges, Gao excelled academically and aimed for greater opportunities.
Graduating from college in 2016, Gao pursued further studies in Hong Kong, yet his job search has been fraught with obstacles. Calling out the difficult realities he faced, initially he was offered to work without pay during a trial, then left a position after not receiving payment for two months. Furthermore, he faced discrimination based on his educational background, as companies deemed him politically unreliable due to his studies outside mainland China.
In a pivotal job interview, he was confronted about his family’s socio-economic status. “Your family has low social status,” he recalled being told, reflecting a harsh truth about societal attitudes. Gao noted, “To them, perseverance is a defect. If you have to struggle, it means you’re not good enough.”
As China’s economic prospects wane, the dreams of countless young individuals like Boris Gao serve as a poignant reminder of how swiftly opportunity can fade, leaving behind a sense of hopelessness amidst rising social barriers.
