Message from yreynoso

[Anonymous]

Professor Yan talked about individualization in Chinese society. He explained that based on this principle, individuals who recognize this as a selfless conduct that must address the loyalty to his/her family. In terms of social responsibility, people in China must devote their lives to help others at the same time that they work hard to fulfill their family and their needs. It was also mentioned that in a traditional China individuals are driven by incentives, and if given the opportunity, the more they work, the the stronger the incentives. These is very empowering for individuals who try to provide a better life for their loved ones.
This is a great topic for discussion in class with high school students who in the US, since this generation has been enjoying of the western social and economic bonanza without really fighting for anything. I really would like to have a discussion with students about the four ropes of traditional Chinese society (political, religious, kinship, and gender power). They should be able to collaborate with partners in finding key points within the traditional Chinese society and the traditional societies in the western hemisphere. They should be able to learn about the socio-cultural privileges we currently enjoy as society vs. the traditional Chinese society.