This week’s reading is about the author Lisa Ko’s book about how a boy finds himself when everything he loves is taken away, and how a mother learns to live the wrong story of the past. For readers to understand this novel better, I want to focus my research on the historical background of this novel.
There is a scene in the novel that impressed me. When Polly learned that if she could work in a factory, she could get a temporary permit and move to Fuzhou, she was very excited. I think this is related to a household registration system in China. For centuries, China has been using a household registration hierarchical system called “hukou”. Residents are subject to special restrictions depending on whether they live in urban or rural areas. Because the household registration system tends to give more benefits to urban residents, it has become a stable structure with widespread inequality. Jagannath said, “There are more educational opportunities and a lot of different courses and institutions available in cities.” (Jagannath, 2) Veronika also mentioned in one of her articles, “One of these is that a variety of job opportunities are available in cities in greater numbers.” (Veronika, 532) In the context of the novel we are going to read this week, we need to be aware that people with rural hukou cannot become permanent residents of cities. This is why Polly is excited about being able to work in the city. This shows the extent of the impact of hukou on people’s lives. Smith mentioned in an article that urban household registration can provide people with better medical resources. (Smith, 2) In the novel, we can know that Polly cannot have an abortion in Fuzhou because he does not have a long-term urban hukou, which shows that urban hukou can enjoy more benefits.
There is another background that needs attention. This novel is an artistic exploration of the debate surrounding the American immigration policy. Polly’s separation from her son at ICE is similar to the separation experienced by many families after crossing the country’s southern border. In summary, the household registration system was very popular in China at that time, and this system has always existed until now. Understanding this background information is essential for understanding some scenes in the novel.
Works Cited
Jagannath, Thejas. “Advantages and Benefits of Living in Cities.” Planning Tank, 19 Sept. 2020, planningtank.com/city-insight/advantages-living-cities.
Smith, AJ. “5 Reasons to Live in a Big City.” Credit.com, 15 May 2018, www.credit.com/blog/benefits-of-living-in-the-city-89248/.
Veronika, KOVÁCS Edit, and Mónika, HARANGI-RÁKOS. “Annals of the University of Oradea, Economic Science Series.” CITIES VS THE COUNTRYSIDE – PROS AND CONS OF URBAN AND RURAL LIFE, vol. 29, no 1, 2020, pp. 530-539.
Hi Yu,
I appreciate that you such provide helpful background information for this week’s reading. I am from China so I can know how can “hukou” largely affect people’s life, which can determine the resources people can access depends on where they live. The household registration system is still used widely in China.
Hi Yu!
Thank you for the historical background information on our reading this week. I have never personally heard of the “hukou” so this presentation helped me learn about that system in China. It is a shame that just based off of if you live in the city or the country, then that determines the resources and accommodations that are available to you.
Hi Yu,
I really enjoyed the background you provided for the novel! It was interesting to learn about the “hukou” since I had never previously heard about it and it kind of reminded me slightly of the caste system in India with the restrictions people face. I also liked the connection you provided to the current events happening with ICE and immigration in America. Thank you for the information!
Hi Yu, thanks for your detailed research. You first provided us with a general idea of this novel, which shows your deep understanding of this story, and it is constructive to our reading. Your introduction on Chinese Household Registration is very detailed, and you clearly marked the difference between living in rural regions and living in cities in China, I am sure this will help me with understanding the plot of the story.