Falling Into the Second-Generation Decline? Evidence From the Intergenerational Differences in Social Identity of Rural-Urban Migrants in China

Previous studies have not adequately articulated the intergenerational differences in social identity of rural-urban migrants in China. Using survey data from Wuhan, China, the study tests three hypotheses on intergenerational differences in rural-urban migrants' social identity based on first-generation and new-generation migrants' attitudes toward rural and urban society. Results suggest that first-generation migrants are more likely to view themselves as rural rather than urban citizens. However, new-generation migrants tend to regard themselves as neither peasants nor urban citizens, which means that their identity reconstruction is at a stalled status. The identity perplexity of new-generation migrants suggests that they may be in danger of falling into the second-generation decline because there is a mismatch between their aspirations and the practical situation of their identity integration. This article highlights that when analyzing rural-urban migrants' social identity, it is very important to consider the role of generation and rural-urban migrants' attitudes toward their background society. Furthermore, the study suggests that in a rural-urban dichotomized society without institutional and social support, rural-urban migrants' identity integration will not be achieved. Therefore, the Chinese government needs to build an institutionally and socially inclusive society.