An Analysis of the Wave of Overseas Studying on College Graduates in First-tier Cities in China from the Perspective of Bourdieu's Theory of Class

Abstract

Based on Bourdieus concepts of capital and habitus in his theory of class, this paper uses qualitative research methods to analyze the motivations for studying abroad and interpret the consciousness and perceptions of students growing up in China's first-tier urban areas. Through the analysis of personal interviews with five students from Beijing, Shenzhen, and Dongguan, three categories of motivation were summarized: perceived class, ubiquitous habitus, and unusual paths beyond habitus. The result indicates that studying abroad is not a mechanical inheritance from social class, but also an active self-pursuit from the spirit cultivated by capital, which is related to the self-expectation and realization of individual value. Therefore, studying abroad is a creative result of their growth process, and the experiences brought by studying abroad are breakthrough products of self-growth under social stratification.