

Cora Lingling Xu, "The Time Inheritors: How Time Inequalities Shape Higher Education Mobility in China" (SUNY Press, 2025)
May 13, 2025
Cora Lingling Xu, an Associate Professor at Durham University and expert in educational mobilities, delves into the concept of 'time inheritance' in higher education in China. She reveals how disparities in access to time drive social inequalities and affect educational mobility. The discussion touches on urban versus rural experiences, the impact of the hukou system, and how socio-economic backgrounds shape students' futures. Through her extensive research, Xu uncovers the nuances of time as a social construct, suggesting that understanding these dynamics is essential for addressing systemic educational disparities.
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Understanding Time Inheritance
- Time inheritance involves both quantitative wealth and qualitative relations with time.
- It explains how time inequality functions alongside economic and social capital in reproducing privilege or deprivation.
Time as a Hidden Inequality Factor
- Time is an overlooked but powerful structuring force in social inequality.
- Including time inheritance broadens understanding of educational and social inequalities.
Examples of Time Misuse
- Norman wasted three years on a master's degree he didn't need, reflecting limited time inheritance.
- Ku lost time on survival jobs unrelated to his research interests, showing how time poverty constrains choices.