International Journal of Frontiers in Sociology, 2023, 5(12); doi: 10.25236/IJFS.2023.051204.
Yuqing Wang
University of the Arts London, London, United Kingdom
Shenzhen, a city that has seen rapid growth since being designated as a special economic zone in 1978, differs from other first-tier cities in that it has a distinctive population structure made up of numerous migrants. How the subjectivities of these migrants—including their occupations, social relationships, and family structures-change in the process of adapting to urban life is a question worth exploring. The paper pays particular attention to Shenzhen's urban villages, which are crucial but temporary spaces for the city's large migrant population. Additionally, the article offers creative viewpoints on the complexity of rural-urban migration through the use of artistic case studies. It seeks to encourage increased awareness of these pertinent issues, inspiring stakeholders to re-envision urban development policies to foster a more inclusive approach towards this oft overlooked yet fundamentally essential segment of the population.
urban migration; Shenzhen; subjectivity; urban-rural migration; artistic case studies
Yuqing Wang. Re-presentation of the Subjectivity of Chinese Urban Migrants: The Case of Shenzhen Urban Villages. International Journal of Frontiers in Sociology (2023), Vol. 5, Issue 12: 21-27. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFS.2023.051204.
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