1. From <italic>guanxi</italic> to <italic>lianjie</italic>: stranger intimacy and co-living in contemporary China.
- Author
-
Zhuang, Haoyan
- Subjects
- *
SOCIAL cohesion , *MORAL attitudes , *SOCIAL networks , *ETHNOLOGY research , *INTIMACY (Psychology) - Abstract
AbstractUrban youth in China increasingly prioritize
lianjie (连接)—a social matrix and lifestyle based on connections with strangers, distinguishing it fromguanxi , which is rooted in acquaintance relations and obligations. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in two urban co-living houses in China, this paper explores the processes, motivations, and nuances oflianjie . Co-living youth develop lianjie through shared public activities that foster interaction, self-disclosure, and the creation of intimate encounters with strangers.Lianjie provides personal benefits such as social connection, emotional release, and potential friendships or co-living arrangements, while also emphasizing individual autonomy and boundaries.Lianjie represents a transformation in the relational self among youth, highlighting individuality and evolving moral attitudes toward strangers. This shift reflects a growing sense of social trust and solidarity within Chinese society. The article contributes to the study of strangership within Chinese culture and the evolving social networks of youth in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF