Description
Book SynopsisMinority students in China often receive preferential treatment for access to universities. However, very little is known about minority student experiences and perceptions on campus after they are accorded what''s called meaningful access to university. The Mongols emerged as a distinct ethnic group in China starting in the 11th century and, in the centuries that followed, conquered a large part of the world. However, in modern times this nomadic people''s influence has declined, and even their survival in China has been threatened. This decline is evidenced by the fact that increasing numbers of Mongols have abandoned their native language and traditional customs, especially those who live in cities. How do Mongol university students, who form the backbone of the Mongol intellectual community, identify themselves in a modern Chinese context? How do they react as university students to the way in which their culture is recognized and represented? Do Mongol students suffer from inju
Trade ReviewThis book recounts untold stories about ethnic relations in China. It examines how ethnic equality is represented in various institutions’ discourses on college campus and how ethnic equality and inequality are perceived and voiced by Mongolian college students, their Han peers, and college faculty/staff. -- Minglang Zhou, University of Maryland at College Park, coeditor of Affirmative Action in China and the U.S.: A Dialogue on Inequality and Minor
Zhenzhou Zhao's volume offers a very welcome scholarly attempt to bring us much closer to a persuasive understanding of the relationship between Han Chinese and ethnic minorities in China in a university setting. By using multiple voices, representing both Mongol and Han students, as well as the educational authorities at the universities at which they are studying, Zhao's research design and methodological choices enable her to tell a highly complex story in clearly written prose. We are presented with an impressive comparative analysis that goes beyond what any single case study would have offered. Because she employed multiple sources of data collection—including documentary research, 141 interviews, and direct observation—Zhao is able to reveal the key differences represented by the multiple voices. While the Chinese media contain many accounts about educational access for minorities, generally offering an "official" voice, this is one of the very few accounts that looks at the experience of minority nationality students after they have enrolled, incorporating their voices alongside that of the dominant majority culture. -- Stanley Rosen, University of Southern California
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Series Editor's Foreword Chapter 2 Foreword Chapter 3 Acknowledgments Chapter 4 1 China, the Mongols, and Ethnic Representation Chapter 5 2 Recognition and Education: A New Perspective on Ethnic Inequality Chapter 6 3 Minorities and Chinese Higher Education Chapter 7 4 The Case of Inner Mongolia Normal University Chapter 8 5 The Case of Beijing Normal University Chapter 9 6 The Case of South China University for Nationalities Chapter 10 7 Privileged and Cultural Recognition: Challenges Facing Higher Education Chapter 11 8 Self-Reflection by the Author 12 Appendix 13 Bibliography 14 Index 15 About the Author
