What is it about?
Young professionals in China are interested in becoming more confident, humorous, and interesting. Clubs affiliated with Toastmasters, an American organization that teaches public speaking, have become common in Chinese cities. This article analyzes how young adults in Chinese Toastmasters clubs learn to present themselves to an audience of peers, and how they use the clubs as social resources. The article suggests that young adults studying public speaking are seeking new ways to connect with others in an unfamiliar urban world.
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Why is it important?
This research provides a new perspective on the global spread of psychological self-help groups, showing that they provide young adults with important tools for adapting to urban life. It also helps us to understand the psychological stresses produced by rapid social change; it shows that many people in China feel unprepared for interacting with strangers, and that shy or reticent young adults may have a difficult time finding social connection in a large city. By examining how young adults in China learn to present themselves to others, the article suggests ways in which contemporary urban life shapes how people learn to understand themselves.
Perspectives
The ability of young adults to establish friendships, romantic partnerships, and a sense of self has important implications for politics and for mental health. I hope that this article provides some materials that help us think about these issues.
Amir Hampel
University of Chicago
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Equal Temperament: Autonomy and Identity in Chinese Public Speaking Clubs, Ethos, December 2017, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/etho.12182.
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