A Study On Culture Changes Of Urban Hui Females Of The80s Generation

The80s Generation was born after the Reform and Opening Up. In these decades, China experienced high-speed development of economy, fundamental renaissance of tradition, and extensive absorption of western culture due to on-going globalization. As a result of this, the80s’ living condition are drastically improved compared to the older generation. They lead a convenient life thanks to material abundance. They yearn for freedom, pursue fashion, and cherish individuality. They are imprinted with this epoch. Furthermore, the80s Hui females are confronting with great impact of either traditional or modern concept. There are many new conflicts emerged in this process. For instance, as well as having rather strong ethnic identification, they want to melt into modern society. As well as being influenced by Muslim cognition and thinking pattern, they desire to embrace new ideas. As well as being proud of their brilliant ethnic culture, they are well aware of its weakness and disadvantages. All in all,80s Hui female youth on one hand have vehement motivation and aspiration of novelty, exoticness, transition and affluence, on the other hand subconsciously intend to protect their culture, religion and customs, etc.This thesis focuses on the material and spiritual cultural changes of urban Hui females of80s Generation from Little West Lake area of Lanzhou city, explores the causes, problems and enlightenments of them by comparison and analysis of their dress and personal adornment, food and drinks, residential circumstances, religion, education, marital convention, etc. with those traditional Hui females. This thesis takes the point of view of ethnology, adopts comparative research technique, and combines empirical investigation and documental consultation. Moreover, the study try to provide a narrative analysis on80s Generation Hui females’behavioral changes, to probe into hows and whys of the fact that urban80s Hui females adjusted themselves to modernization while somehow attained and inherited their national customs and religions simultaneously, and to compensate the lack of study on the cultural changes of Hui people.There are five chapters of this paper. Chapter one is introduction, mainly discussed the study’s cause and significance, the current academic environment inside and outside of China, the research techniques and the specific investigation process, etc. Chapter two explicates the material civilization changes, e.g. Hui females’external behavioral changes on dress, food, residence and transportation. Chapter three concentrated on spiritual level behavioral changes about marital convention, religious life, and education. Chapter four analyzing the causes of those changes; bring up the author’s idea. Chapter five is a conclusion, trying to predict the effects of the behavioral changes of80s Generation Hui females.