FILTROS ACTIVOS

Some of the participants work and lives is constrained by their city migrant identity. These medical professionals have been working in Shanghai for many years but they are not local residents (“Shanghainese”). With the development of transportation and the expansion of urban mobility, migration makes China become socially and culturally diversified. Most Chinese people aim to gain a better life and brilliant career advancement through migration from the small city to the metropolis. However, these migrants may face challenges and problems living in the new city. The participants reported that getting a “Hukou” in Shanghai is an essential issue that influences their work and life. The “Hukou”21 _{has important} consequences for occupational attainment, social benefits, housing choices, and children’s education in China. It seems that the big cities offer “Hukou” to attract highly qualified migrants. However, as the numbers of highly qualified migrants have grown faster, the demand exceeds the supply. What is important is that there has been

institutionalized discrimination against migrants with no

local “Hukou" (Afridi et al. 2012; Young 2013).

Mr. Wu (Doctor, RP, Married) indicated the importance of getting a “Hukou” in Shanghai.

I like living in Shanghai because the life here is better than in other places. I enjoy the convenient transportation, the high medical quality, and the advantageous education environment for my child. What makes me uncomfortable is that I don’t have a Shanghai “Hukou". I have “hukou” in my hometown. It means that I cannot get equal rights such as medical care and pensions with the local residents (the people who have Shanghai “Hukou”). I know if I want to settle down in

21 _{Household registration system. The household registration system has obvious implications for}

social class division in China. However, many see it as being an indispensable social foundation for Chinese citizens' lives, public services, government administration, and national justice.

Shanghai, I must get a “Hukou” in Shanghai because of the pension, medical care and the equal education rights for my son. But it will take many years, and I am not sure whether I could get it ...

A Shanghai “Hukou” means securing equal rights and identity for a migrant. Mrs. Wu worries about the damage of social benefits because of the migration problems of Shanghai “Hukou” which might influence the life quality in Shanghai and her son’s education.

Sometimes, I think the life quality in Shanghai is not as good as it in my hometown. I do not have enough money to buy a flat in Shanghai! We are living in a rented flat and the conditions are not good. In contrast, I have my own flat in my hometown, which is a big flat and it is very comfortable. My son is in a private nursery, which is not good as the public one (the public nursery is better than the private nursery in most of Chinese nurseries), because we do not have Shanghai “Hukou” and my son cannot go to the public nursery. It is also difficult for him to go to a good public primary school or a good junior high school in the future if there is no “Hukou”. Whenever I encounter these things that are caused by the “Hukou” limitation it makes us be treated differently. I feel it is very unfair and that I have actually suffered a blow. It is almost impossible to offer a good education for my son in Shanghai. I can only send him to a worse school to study. However, the quality and environment of these schools are not good. I do not want my son to go to such schools. I hope he can go to a better school and receive a good education.

In addition to the “Hukou" restrictions, the high price of buying a house is an important concern for Mrs. Wu.

No matter which city we choose, the first issue is to consider about the life quality and life satisfaction, and the second thing is my son's education problems. Our (my husband’s and my) income can meet the basic living requirements, but buying a flat in Shanghai is basically impossible, at least within 20 years! The housing prices in Shanghai are too high; we need to work for many years to pay the deposit, and then we need to pay a large amount of the mortgage; after my son go to school, we need a lot of money to pay the tuition fee... These things put a lot of pressures to me. However, if we do not buy a flat in Shanghai, it will cause many problems for my son's future education. Where the house is bought, where the child could go to school. Although we like Shanghai, we are not going to stay here for a long time. When my son is ready to go primary school, I might consider changing job location. Maybe five years later, if there are no significant changes in our lives, such as obtaining Shanghai “Hukou” or buying a flat, we will return home.

I ask Mrs. Wu whether she feels a little regret if she gives up her previous efforts in Shanghai for many years, she says:

I have worked in Shanghai for several years. I saw many things that I haven’t seen before and I earn much money, and I have the rich working experience in the biggest city in China. It's enough! I know it is difficult to get a Shanghai “Hukou”, and I cannot handle the life well without a resident’s identity. Going back to my hometown is the best way, so there is nothing I need to complain about. My parents are living in the hometown; they are getting older and their health is not good. It is necessary to return home to take care of them. My husband has the same opinion as me. For me, it doesn't matter where I live. I pursue my family's happiness and happy life. I have no excessive demands for

money.

In contrast, Mrs. Hua (Midwife, Married) is a local resident in Shanghai. She has no worries about her rights, identity and living conditions in Shanghai.

Our family's economic conditions are good. Totally, my husband and I have seven flats in Shanghai, so we don't have to worry about the money. So, for me, my job is not aim to earn money, and I don’t need to push myself to work very hard. I don’t have much pressure in the work. My life is comfortable because I have Shanghai a “Hukou” and I can enjoy all the benefits in Shanghai.

Mrs. Wu and Mrs. Hua’s description about their living situation show the significant importance of local resident identity (“Hukou”). Pressure on the migrant barriers is an essential factor that influences the career and life situation of the participants. It also has a big influence on career choice deciding which city the participants chose to work in.

This chapter focused on the organizational problems in China that constrain the interviewees career advancement. They reported the issues from different aspects such as medical work problems, relationships and conflicts, hospital hierarchy pressures, and migration barriers. They also reported the different strategies they used to deal with these problems. These issues reflect the existence of problems within the Chinese medical system, which creates the challenges and pressures for women doctors to develop their careers. The next chapter will focus on the work and family interaction problems of the interviewees, and look at how they deal with these problems.

7. Work and Family Issues in the Medical