Study Gods: How the New Chinese Elite Prepare for Global Competition

Privileged adolescents in China acquire status by absorbing and implementing the rules surrounding status, understanding the hierarchy of the system, expecting differential treatment, and relying on external assistance. This helps them succeed in their pursuit of elite status and in their relationships with colleagues and supervisors.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 23 August 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Privileged adolescents in China have a unique advantage when it comes to acquiring status and achieving success. Yi-Lin Chiang's book, "Study Gods," provides a rare insight into the strategies employed by these high-achieving students to join the global elite. Chiang demonstrates how these competitive Chinese high schoolers become known as "study gods" (xueshen), excelling academically. However, it is not just their constant studying that contributes to their success. These young individuals possess an uncanny ability to excel effortlessly, resembling gods in their abilities.

Chiang's research reveals that elite adolescents in China achieve status by absorbing and implementing the rules surrounding social hierarchy. Through extensive fieldwork and in-depth interviews, he uncovers the valuable lessons that Chinese youth learn in their pursuit of elite status. They understand the hierarchical structure of the status system and recognize the characteristics that are highly valued. They strive to acquire these qualities while avoiding those that are seen as undesirable.

Maintaining status is crucial for these privileged adolescents, and they expect differential treatment and engage in status-based behaviors. These behaviors shape their interactions with peers, teachers, and parents, guiding their daily interactions. Additionally, they rely on the support of their resourceful parents, who provide external assistance when faced with potential obstacles or failures.

Chiang explores how students develop these skills and applies them as they embark on college and career paths, as well as in their relationships with colleagues and supervisors. "Study Gods" not only sheds light on the strategies employed by privileged adolescents in China but also highlights another aspect of China's rising power in the global arena. It signals the arrival of a new generation that is poised to compete at the highest level on the international stage.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691210483