The Anxiety And Insecurity Of The Middle Class

How can some middle class people with higher income levels,better education background and higher professional reputation actively participate in tarot divination and other superstitious activities in daily life?This article takes the middle-class customers of a Tarot store in Hangzhou as the research object.Through field observations,the main reason for the participation of such groups in divination is to use this as a means of eliminating daily anxiety and insecurity.Through Tarot cards for divination and other means,to eliminate(1)economically rich but not wealthy,facing many concerns in the purchase of homes,children's education,and old-age care;(2)political concerns that social reforms lead to damaging personal interests;(3)Individuals undergo fierce social competition and need to deal with many challenges in personal emotion and career development.This article believes that there are some structural and institutional reasons for this phenomenon.First,the current social stratum in China is becoming more and more serious.Social mobility is constrained by the dual factors of the system and the market.Secondly,in the process of rapid social transformation,various institutional mechanisms have yet to be improved.Finally,social atomization tends to intensify and individuals cannot get help from others and society.In face of anxiety and insecurity,the conventional institutionalization channels are either absent or ineffective,making this part of the middle class groups resort to non-institutional channels.Tarot divination is practical,professional,and timely.The characteristics gain the favor of this group of people.This article believes that the government and other relevant parties should take an active role in the effort to make the middle class not only meet external standards,but also have a middle class mentality,thus alleviating such anxiety and insecurity.