Ying Miao - Being Middle Class in China: Identity, Attitudes and Behaviour

First published 2017
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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2017 Ying Miao

The right of Ying Miao to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

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ISBN: 978-1-138-18768-9 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-64301-4 (ebk)

Typeset in Times New Roman
by codeMantra

This book could not have come into existence without the continuing support, unreserved encouragement and expert criticisms offered by a number of people. Professor Peter Nolan, who oversaw the meandering and often struggling process of transforming an idea and a question into a project and a book; whose words, actions and no nonsense advice not only taught me how to conduct research but also taught me how to be an academic. Professor David Goodman, whose unending patience, good humour and superhuman time management skills were instrumental in enabling the transition of this project from a thesis to a book, and transitioning myself from a PhD student to a starting lecturer and an early career researcher. I am especially thankful for his meticulous reading and editing of the manuscript on various occasions, hence, all mistakes that remain are mine. My gratitude goes to the following: numerous friends and esteemed colleagues in both the Centre of Development Studies, University of Cambridge, and the Department of China Studies, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University, who made the often idiosyncratic experience of academic pursuit enjoyable and rewarding; my parents, Ning Wang and Jiegang Miao, who are middle class maybe two days a week but scholarly curious and supportive always, who made everything possible; and finally, Dr. Yu Jia, my life partner and comrade in the scientific side of academia, who, despite preferring relativity to reflectivity, has been a constant source of comfort and cheer.

In August 2015, I was invited to stay in Aunt Lins newly purchased summer retreat in central China. As we drove through the impressive gates and past the vast golf course designed exclusively for the residents, she recounted a tale of how she fended off a girl who wanted to marry into their household, but demanded too much financially. After she listed all the things the girl wanted, the summer villa among them, Aunt Lin exclaimed: Who does she think we are? We are but a middle class family, we are not rich. A thoughtful pause later, she amended: Actually, we are just salaried class. A slightly better off salaried class family than others, but still! We work for our money, and money doesnt fall out of trees.