Ancillary 9

My topic focuses on the hukou, a specific system of household registration in mainland China, within Shanghai, China, specifically the issue of unfairness created for non-Shanghainese living in Shanghai. Hukou is essentially determined by one’s birthplace, while transferring hukou will be an extremely difficult process, especially to a metropolis. Amongst all, Shanghai hukou is arguably the best option yet the most difficult to be transferred into. Residents with Shanghai hukou can enjoy the priority of purchasing houses without limitation, earning Shanghai car licenses (extremely expensive and hard to get), qualifying for the best medical and health insurance system in China, and finding jobs easier within this cosmopolis. A Shanghai hukou almost means a solid basis for success in Shanghai. Just like applying for a college, as many people begin to apply for Shanghai hukou, the requirement becomes higher, and the acceptance rate drops. Gradually, having a Shanghai hukou almost represents a social status for the upper classes.

Meanwhile, people began to fight for hukou by all means, notably by looking for a marriage with a Shanghainese man/woman. As a result, while spending quality time exploring and pursuing their interests, many parents are willing to sacrifice themselves (true love, abandoning original families, etc.) to fight for a Shanghai hukou, a representative status, for their kids. In general, hukou, originally designed for better population planning, unexpectedly becomes a barrier for non-Shanghainese who wants to pursue their dreams and succeed within this city. Birth almost becomes a determining factor in one’s life.

I am interested in learning about this topic because I realize my privilege as I was born and raised in Shanghai and want to further learn about how the problem of hukou has disturbed most of the lower- or middle-class residents in China. Though I understand problems brought by hukou, for now, it remains general and vague. The next step is to conduct research and understand the problems with actuality and practicality and also look for potential solutions to resolve this issue.