Exploring Individual Modernity Of Chinese Migrant Workers-Causes And Consequences

The concept of modernity has always been one of the central themes in social analysis. There are basically two approaches to the study of modernization. The first perspective examines the relatively traditional status of the society and the transformative processes and focuses on patterns of social organization. The second perspective studies the cultural values, beliefs and psychological orientations of the individuals. In China, the study of individual modernity is largely neglected. Among the very few studies carried out by Chinese scholars, almost all of them are focused on teenagers. The present study is an attempt to explore the individual modernity of Chinese migrant workers. Working and living in a highly urbanized and industrialized city involves a continuous process of inter-group communication, intra-cultural adaptation, and building a new identity through weighing and evaluating the traditional and modern values, attitudes and behavioral orientations. All these are important components of contemporary research of intercultural communication.Based on American sociologist Alex Inkeles'Overall Modernity Scale and Chinese psychologist K.S. Yang's Multi-dimensional modernity scale, the author constructed a questionnaire and administered it among 330 migrant workers in three highly developed cities—Shanghai, Ningbo and Zhengzhou. Using explorative factor analysis and regression analysis, the author attempted to explore multiple dimensions of modernity of Chinese migrant workers, and to explain the causes and consequences of modernity. Follow-up interviews were conducted to further examine the hypothetical causes.Statistical results suggested that migrant workers are generally modern on all the eight dimensions classified"a priori". They (1) play a more egalitarian role in their social and personal life; (2) place a high value on education and strive for economic success; (3) believe that one can exert considerable control over his environment and advance his goals; (4) welcome change and are more disposed to accept new ideas, new ways of feeling and acting; (5) believe in the advantages of planning and are more oriented to the present and the future than to the past; (6) respect for the dignity of others; (7) are optimistic about the development and future of things and believe in the goodness of people; and (8) emphasize freedom of actions. Statistics also indicated that father's education and age played the most significant role shaping the modernity of migrant workers. Follow-up interviews indicated that migrant workers'education, the migration and urban experiences, industrial experiences, and media exposure were all major determinants of individual modernity. In terms of consequences and significance, development of individual modernity of Chinese migrant workers have brought economic and structural development to rural China and have helped them better adapt to the city.Implications of the present study for individual modernity studies are noted and directions for future research are also proposed at the end of the thesis. The author's main argument is that migrant workers have to go through a rough time adapting themselves to the urbanized areas, and constructing a new identity that could allow them to live a better life. It is important to pay attention to the development of this special group of people.