China is a huge country, just as the US, regional difference is vast. However, 96% of the people are from one ethnicity - Han.
So, how do we discriminate each other? Apart from income/wealth dimension, there must be other ways to fulfull this basic human desire that society needs to keep everyone in their place, right?
Well, we have something, and I heard that, in addition to China, Viet Nam and North Korea are the only two other countries that still have it. It is the household registration system, aka Hukou.
Its history and implementation are very well documented by this wikipedia entry. The current system was built in 1958. It put all farmers under the control of the head of the commune. Then a year later, three years of famine happened.
In Hukou, a key differentiation of people is to categorize them as agricultural and non-agricultural. There you go, we have our white vs people of color division. It is very hard to compare the historical racist system of the US and the Chinese Hukou to pick a winner. I think it deserves an academic paper.
No, who am I kidding: obviously, China knows best. The Hukou system wins.
But, while non-agricultural Hukou status (city residence) is much more desirable, not all cities are created equal.
Name three cities in China. Beijing? Shanghai? Okay, you have it. These two cities sit on top of the discrimination pyramid and citizens in these two cities can look down on anyone in China proudly. They also look down on each other glibly. When I was studying in a university in China, people told me that students from Shanghai or Beijing don’t talk to anyone from outside their hometowns.
So when they did talk to me, I felt chosen. I must be outstanding in some way, right?
All of this background is to introduce today’s story: it is insignificant compared to all the news stories about the 1.4 billion people you read in the media. But, it gives you a little casual glimpse of China.
Today’s story comes from chat screenshots. It is told by a young Chinese man who is studying in San Francisco. Someone broadcasted it to twitter for everyone to read, see original tweet here. This is a story in four screenshots.
(Rough translation)
She is a Shanghainese, her family sent her to the USA when she was in middle school. I came a year ago to the US and I just finished my language school now. I met her through a friend when learning English. We had drinks a few times before we started dating.
From the start, I told her I was a Shanghainese, because I grew up in Shanghai, had barely visited Shenyang.
After I got to know her, I discovered that she has a bit of princess sickness and a bit of that-kind-of-racism, especially she looks down on blacks, and never socializes with girls with dark skin. But I did not mind, after all, I don't like blacks myself.
NOTE
But I did not realize that her discrimination is not just skin color, but also heavily regional. Now that we broke up, it dawns on me that all her Chinese friends are from Shanghai. Not one is from outside Shanghai.
A while ago we went to Greece for a trip. On the way back, she saw that the issuance place on my passport is Shenyang, she broke up with me right away. I could not understand why, because she kept saying that I cheated her and she can't stand being cheated. After my persistent inquiry, she told me because I am a NorthEastener, and she feels have a NorthEastener as a boyfriend is very shameful.
We had a fight that night. At that moment, I discovered that her regional discrimination is deeply rooted in her bones.
In my opinion Northeasteners are rednecks.
This impression can't be changed by you alone.
Got it?
We can't be together, don't force it.
I have no word for you.
No sad (in English in the original)
In fact, apart from Shanghai, I have no good impression of anywhere in China. It is not only North-East.
I told you so when we were in Santorini.
I have one question.
Aren't you Chinese?
How to say it.
I actually don't consider myself Chinese.
I'd rather think I am Shanghainese
...
What is the difference?
I feel I am playing piano to a cow.
I am talking about feelings, you are talking about regions.
Girl:
But our backgrounds have to match when talking about feelings
In my subconsciousness, I am looking for an American or Shanghainese boyfriend.
I don't want a NorthEastern boyfriend.
We are not on the same level, why we have to stay together?
Boy:
But you at least got higher education.
Girl:
I have lived in San Francisco for seven years, I can't accept the future of me marrying a NorthEastener. Sorry.
Boy:
Why do you have such strange idea of hierarchy?
Girl:
On our wedding, there will be the loud music of disco with the big NorthEastern flavour, and people boasting while drinking Harbin beers.
Sorry, I can't accept that.
I was not born with this idea of hierarchy.
Boy:
your mother fucking disco with NorthenEastern flavour
I am dead mad
What a fucking brain dead
Girl:
haha
Exposed, bro
Boy:
Who the hell is your bro
Girl:
The inferiority comes from your bones
It can't be changed.
End of the story. A little explanation: because the boy’s parents were registered in Shenyang, despite the fact he grew up in Shanghai, he is registered in Shenyang, hence his passport was issued in Shenyang. It is normally very hard to move registration from one place to another. You need a lots of documentations to justify your registration in the destination place.