“Roots” And Faraway Places: A Study Of The Return Experience Of Small-town Youth

Previous research on return youth mainly focused on the youth returning to rural areas,but less focused on youth returning to small cities such as counties and towns.In addition,the current mainstream theoretical perspective on return migration rarely incorporates the phenomenon of domestic return into the analysis framework,and few studies attempt o focus on the returnees’ own meaning construction of the experience of return within the Chinese context.This thesis mainly adopts interview and observation as research method to collect data.Through the analysis of the return course of 20 young people who have returned to the county or township,the following main conclusions and contributions are obtained: First,the action of return is a complex experience and should be understood as part of the entire migration process.The understanding of different living worlds during peripatetic existence and the pattern of circular migration have shaped the youth’s return journey together.Second,compared to the macro political and economic factors,the life course and reflection on their own life of the return youth have a more direct and profound impact on their decision to return.Third,this thesis proposes the concept of "roots",which is inspired by anchoring theory and everyday language to understand the return experience of the small-town youth,including the processes of decision-making and re-adaptation.The "roots" of small-town youth in their hometowns are not only an important reason for their return,but also provide different resources to help them to resettle.Fourth,under the perspective of "roots," although all the return youth came back to their hometowns,there exist two different constructions of the meaning of their return journey: some youth return to their hometowns because of their regional identity and attachment to their hometowns,and see their return as "returning to their roots".The others think that their return don not have the same meaning,but is a rational choice due to economic cost and lifestyle preference.Therefore,some young people who have actually adapted to the life in their hometowns are often caught in a "siege" mentality.And,in terms of future expectations,these young people do not necessarily feel comfortable staying in the town forever,but rather embrace an open future.However,the "roots" that once helped them settle may also act as a deterrent to prevent them from moving on.In a theoretical sense,this thesis proposes the concept of "roots," defined as the physical and emotional ties between returnees and their hometowns,as well as the resources and conditions that could help returnees resettle in their hometowns,including the youth’s identity,habitus,and social networks.This thesis also attempts to understand the return journey of young people through the lens of "roots" and dialogues with the theory of return migration and integration.In a practical sense,this thesis hopes to consider the huge gaps between metropolis and small cities in contemporary China,and to focus on the situation and future of return small-town youth.