After the first tutorial of Unit 3, I reconsidered my research question and changed to: How can we alleviate the emotional dilemmas of youth migration within China?

During the research process, I discovered that “urbanisation in China” is an issue that cannot be overlooked when studying internal migration in China. Due to the restrictions of China’s household registration system (hukou), it is difficult for people to obtain the right to settle in a place other than their place of birth, making them a ‘marginalised group’ in the city. This leads to a lack of urban identity and a sense of belonging  (Chen, 2010). Even long-term urban residents face unprecedented levels of mobility due to the rapid pace of spatial reorganisation within cities. They experience challenges such as transitioning between work and living environments, detaching from original communities, and difficulties in establishing new social connections (Chen and Gong, 2022). As a result, it is difficult for them to quickly develop a sense of identity and belonging to the areas where they reside. Although this emotional state of detachment has been somewhat mitigated during the process of urbanisation, it still remains a common experience for many people living in urban areas.

Research indicates that an individual’s integration into a city and the establishment of emotional connections to it are influenced not only by social factors such as the length of residence and the strength of social networks but also by the functional support that the city provides for the individual’s survival and development (Wang and Fan, 2012). Research shows that for a resident to form a relatively stable emotional connection with the city and its locations, they need to go through at least four developmental stages (Raymond et al., 2010):

1. Formation of “Place Dependence”: This stage involves the city providing employment opportunities, housing security, medical care, education, and other functional supports to citizens, forming the material basis for the emotional connection.
2. Achievement of “Identity Integration”: In this stage, residents obtain citizen status recognised by the system, enjoy equal access to public services provided by the city, and bear corresponding rights and obligations.
3. Establishment of “Social Connections”: This stage involves building modern community or group networks based on geographic proximity, professional ties, and shared interests, rather than traditional networks based on blood ties, kinship, and regional connections. This enables integration into the urban social network.
4. Formation of “Place Identity”: At this stage, individuals cognitively include “place” as part of their “self,” reflected in a strong sense of belonging and identity with the city on a spiritual level. This is not only supported by the realisation of the three dimensions mentioned above but also by active participation in local affairs and the ability to shape the place according to one’s own wishes.

Through these four stages, a stable emotional connection between people and places can be formed. Therefore, subsequent research will look at these four perspectives to explore the reasons for the formation of the emotional dilemmas of internal migrants in China.

Reference:

Chan, K.W., 2010. The household registration system and migrant labor in China: Notes on a debate. Population and development review, 36(2), pp.357-364.

Chen, J. and Gong, L., 2022. Loneliness in urbanising China. Health & social care in the community, 30(3), pp.e812-e822.

Wang, W.W. and Fan, C.C., 2012. Migrant workers’ integration in urban China: Experiences in employment, social adaptation, and self-identity. Eurasian Geography and Economics, 53(6), pp.731-749.

Raymond, C.M., Brown, G. and Weber, D., 2010. The measurement of place attachment: Personal, community, and environmental connections. Journal of environmental psychology, 30(4), pp.422-434.