e06-07 text : nieve wong (source: s- le) photos : sing tao daily,...
TRANSCRIPT
1. How would you think this social
phenomenon would develop with
problems young people are facing?
2. Who is most to blame for the
boomerang children trend?
1
Critical questions
www.youtube.com/watch?v-wuDjln
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www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/
2012/aug/24/generation-boomerang-
adultescents
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References
Boomerang children are the result
of overprotective parents and a
discouraging economic climate. If they
continue to live off their parents and
contribute nothing, it will burden not only
their family but also the entire society.
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Key ideas
According to the 2011 Population
Census results, there are approximately
860,000 young people aged between 15
and 24, taking up 12 percent of the entire
population of Hong Kong. Figures also
show that over 94 percent of them live
with their parents. Those who still live with
their parents after marriage rose from 14
percent to 29 percent in ten years.
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Did you know?
A worldwide trend
Tackling the problem
What are the causes?
‘BOOMERANG children’ refers to grown adults who return home to live with their parents and depend greatly on. Sociologists have coined this phenomenon ‘Neo-Youth Unemployment Group’ (新失業群體). Boomerang children can be categorised into the following:
Category Reasons for returning home Percentage
University graduate
Being too picky to get a satisfactory job
20%
Unsatisfi ed with work
Quitting the job because they feel like staying at home
20%
Entrepreneur dreamer type
H a v i n g s t r o n g entrepreneurial aspiration but lacking the knowledge and strategies for starting a business
20%
Switching between jobs
Constantly looking for new jobs while employed until they cannot fi nd one anymore
10%
Low cultural competence and skills
Limited to taking low-ski l led jobs as cheap labour, often ends up staying at home
30%
THE term ‘boomerang children’ might be new to Hong Kong people, but their effect is not. The latest Census and Statistics Department (統計處) study revealed that in 2011, out of 860,000 youths aged between 15 and 24, 94.6 percent live with their parents – a 3.1 percent increase from ten years ago, with young adults of the 24-30 age group yet to be counted in the study. Many families have already experienced this phenomenon.
This social trend is on its way to becoming a worldwide endemic with 30 percent of youths depending on fi nancial support by their parents. In the US, the number of young adults living with parents has reached 15.8 million, an increase of 1.2 million from four years ago. Britain, Canada and Japan see similar problems.
Personal Youths ought to know their obligations and responsibilities, which include sustaining their families and contributing to society. Living off parents is not the way out. Young people are
advised to start life planning at an early stage, striking a balance between fulfilling dreams and needs. Never chase a dream that burdens the people around you.
ParentalAs much as the parents may desire their domesticated children in their homes, they are being burdened in many ways. Charging their boomerang children for
household expenses or rent could be a good way to avoid being taken advantage of and curb overspending. After all, young adults must learn to take up responsibilities, at
least for their own part. Unconditional support from parents will only get in the way of developing their independence.GovernmentalThe rise of boomerang children is, quite simply, a vicious cycle sustained by the government who does little to help stabilise the property market. Unaffordable,
skyrocketing housing prices make it unrealistic to discuss independence. Many have given up hopes of starting a family and working towards owning a home because their
earnings fail to keep up with infl ation. At the end of the day, the government holds the key to young people’s independent futures. Failing to address the problems of housing and high living costs will only worsen the situation. Boomerang children will eventually not only burden individual families, but also slow down the whole economy.
YOUNG people crave independence. Becoming a boomerang child is the last thing they wish for. What can they or others do to help?
BOOMERANG children are a global social issue. Causes vary from one country to another.Traditions and culturesSince the start of the ‘one-child policy’, parents in China have been spoiling their only child. They do not allow them to deal with economic problems alone. Since Asian countries strongly value family ties, most parents do not mind taking their children back into their homes. This has discouraged their children from becoming independent and pursuing their careers resulting in an increase of boomerang children.High living costs amid poor economy In Hong Kong, such unhealthy dependence on family support largely attributes to outrageous property prices and diffi cult living conditions. The poor economic outlook across the US and Europe takes some of the blame for this ‘home-returning’ trend. Social mobility declineWith the globalisation of technology and a knowledge-based economy comes the problem of excessive labour, as productions have been computerised and academic qualifi cations reduced in value. Therefore, young adults who cannot secure a suitable job turn to family for support. There are some of them who have long been excluded from the labour market, losing the motivation for work and making them pessimistic ‘homeboys’.
Country Name Meaning
China The gnawing old group (啃老族) Those who live off their old parents
Hong Kong Non-engaged youth (雙失青年)Young people who are out of school and unemployed
France Kangaroo generation (袋鼠族)University graduates who evade work and depend on their parents because of low income
Britain NEET (尼特族) Not in Education, Employment or Training
The US Boomerang kids (歸巢族)Kids who return to and rely on their family for parental care and economic support
Japan Furita (飛特族)Part-timers and freelancers doing low-skill jobs
TaiwanRice worms (米蟲)/ Squat-at-homes (家裡蹲)
Exhausting home resources without making family contributions
‘Boomerang children’ around the world
In a city with low birth rates and an ageing popula t ion , a growing genera t ion o f ‘boomerang children’ threatens to overburden the SAR’s fragile economic and social health
overview causes infl uence improvements
US: boomerang childrenUK: NEETFrance: kangaroo generationJapan: ‘furita’ Taiwan: rice worms
China: approx. 30%US: approx. 50%Europe: above 40%
social stability↓ social stability↓
youth adjusting mentality
government providing support
spoiled by parents→youth autonomy↓
youth quality↓competitiveness↓
parenting style
changed
global economy↓→job opportunity↓
population ageing→productivity↓
property market ↑+ value of academic qualifi cation ↓+ cost of living↑
youths getting married ↓ + number of them moving out ↓
global social phenomenon
mentality: positive → negative
Globalisation•European debt crisis•economic globalisation•technology development
Personal Growth and Interpersonal Relationships•goals, expectations•life planning•self-esteem
Modern China•family concept•parenting style
Hong Kong Today•quality of living•ageing population•youth problem
boomerang children in Hong Kong ↑
Boomerang children
Dependingon parents
‘Boomerang’ types
$100
savings
pension
9 April 2013Tuesday
E06-07 Liberal Studies ■ Text : Nieve Wong (Source: S-fi le) ■ Photos : Sing Tao Daily, internet
■ Hong Kong Today
■ Modern China
■ Public Health
■ Globalisation■ Personal Development & Interpersonal Relationships
■ Energy, Technology & the Environment
This article enables students to:1. assess qualities, phenomena, changes, trends and impacts in relation to various aspects of
society and culture;
2. apply critical thinking skills and adopt multiple perspectives in making decisions and
judgments regarding social issues and problems
Vocabulary inflation (n) 通脹outrageous (adj) 令人無法容忍的 life planning (n phr) 生涯規劃 vicious cycle (n phr) 惡性循環 sustain (v) 支持 skyrocketing (adj) 飛漲endemic (v) 流行病picky (adj) 挑剔的
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