Involution and Lying Flat — The challenges for China’s young generation
About this episode
The episode discusses the acute challenges faced by China's youth amid economic and social pressures.
While young people around the world face growing difficulties finding work and coping with the cost-of-living crisis, the situation confronting China’s youth seems particularly acute. Years of pandemic disruption, economic slowdown and mounting social pressure have created a sense of fatigue and frustration for many. This has given rise to a new language of despair and dark humour. ‘Nei Juan’ (内卷) — or ‘involution’ — describes the exhausting, endless competition where everyone works harder ye...
Topics covered
- youth challenges
- economic issues
- social pressure
- mental health
- cultural commentary
Keywords
- China
- youth
- involution
- economic slowdown
- cost-of-living
- social pressure
- pandemic
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Nei Juan, involution
Places: China
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