Over the last few decades, China has seen incredible economic growth, lifting over 800 million people out of poverty and creating a burgeoning middle class of around 400 million. Cities became bustling hubs as villagers migrated in search of better lives, and education became a pathway for many to rise.
However, the economic tide has shifted. The promise that hard work leads to a better life is slipping away for many in the working class, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds. Take Boris Gao, for instance. After his parents lost jobs at state-owned factories, they struggled financially. His mother even canceled his school text message notifications to save money, impacting his education.
Boris’s relentless work ethic led him to graduate college in 2016 and pursue further studies in Hong Kong. But since 2024, he has faced rejection after rejection in the job market. Some employers asked him to work unpaid for trial periods, while others deemed his educational background from outside mainland China politically unreliable. One interview he faced quickly turned from hopeful to harsh when he was told his family background deemed him undesirable.
His experiences highlight a changing sentiment in China — where once perseverance was seen as virtuous, it now denotes inadequacy in an increasingly competitive economic landscape. “To them, perseverance is a defect,” Boris reflects, embodying a generation that sees the once-glimmering Chinese Dream becoming increasingly out of reach.
However, the economic tide has shifted. The promise that hard work leads to a better life is slipping away for many in the working class, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds. Take Boris Gao, for instance. After his parents lost jobs at state-owned factories, they struggled financially. His mother even canceled his school text message notifications to save money, impacting his education.
Boris’s relentless work ethic led him to graduate college in 2016 and pursue further studies in Hong Kong. But since 2024, he has faced rejection after rejection in the job market. Some employers asked him to work unpaid for trial periods, while others deemed his educational background from outside mainland China politically unreliable. One interview he faced quickly turned from hopeful to harsh when he was told his family background deemed him undesirable.
His experiences highlight a changing sentiment in China — where once perseverance was seen as virtuous, it now denotes inadequacy in an increasingly competitive economic landscape. “To them, perseverance is a defect,” Boris reflects, embodying a generation that sees the once-glimmering Chinese Dream becoming increasingly out of reach.
