Middle-Class Education Anxiety in China: Rising Parentocracy and Institutional Uncertainty in Social Reproduction

There is increasing concern regarding widespread educational anxiety in China, driven by significant investments of money, time, and effort made by parents in their children’s education. This study investigates the phenomenon of rising parentocracy in China and its relations to educational anxiety among middle-class parents, based on in-depth interviews with eighteen parents. The findings reveal that interviewed middle-class parents emphasize their responsibilities in their children’s education, albeit with a growing awareness of parental sovereignty. They prioritize securing educational advantages for their children through market-oriented solutions. However, challenges related to risks in social reproduction—shaped by individual dynamics, market strategies, and policy interventions—substantially contribute to their educational anxiety. This research enhances understanding of parentocracy and associated uncertainties in social reproduction of the middle class within a regulated market environment.