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Men in Medieval China Had Same Social Mobility As US Baby Boomers: Study
(www.businessinsider.com)
this post was submitted on 25 Jan 2024
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This study helps to explain aspects of Chinese culture that the West seems to lack understanding for: a meritocracy has been the foundation for Chinese social movement since the Tang dynasty. Upwards mobility was dictated by academic performance, not some notion of capital accrual.
Academic performance is dictated by access to good educators which has always been dictated by wealth.
The facade of merit has always been used to justify casting away 'lazy people who don't study enough' when the reality is that not everyone can afford private tutors, exotic sports, cram school, travel experience, and every other paid tactic to overstuff kid's resumes.
By gender and wealth. Not only wealth.
True. It could be far better, but one thing China did vastly improve on since the 1950s is bringing women into the workforce and providing them with a far greater degree of autonomy and access to real education than women previously experienced.
This might not sound like much since this has happened to varying degrees in many countries, but it's understated how socially regressive Chinese views on women historically were (and still are). Not saying things are good now, because China is still rife with gender inequality issues. Just pointing out how disgusting and ingrained Confucian views on womanhood are and how much of a stain it has left on Chinese society.