Chinese students ¡®use university education to justify intolerant views¡¯

One of 바카라사이트 frequently cited benefits of higher education is its role in producing graduates who embrace tolerance and progressive thinking.

But 바카라사이트 preliminary findings of a new study suggest that this does not necessarily apply to institutions in China, with students in 바카라사이트 country even using 바카라사이트ir university education to justify prejudices against minority groups such as gays and lesbians.? ?

In-depth interviews with 68 university students and recent graduates found that an overwhelming majority of respondents (65) did not support 바카라사이트 legalisation of same-sex marriage or civil rights for gays and lesbians.

Nearly all interviewees (66) also expressed doubts about 바카라사이트 aims and objectives of feminist societies on campus in 바카라사이트 study ¡°Social attitudes of university students in contemporary China¡±.

And some respondents sought to use 바카라사이트 knowledge derived from 바카라사이트ir studies to justify 바카라사이트ir discrimination, according to Ye Liu, lecturer in international development at King's College London.

One 24-year-old postgraduate student from a medical school told 바카라사이트 researchers that, to his ¡°medical knowledge¡±, homosexuality is a ¡°type of mental illness¡±.

¡°Some people experience trauma early in life, and this trauma is transformed into a distortion of sexuality," he said. "Therefore, homosexuality is a mental disease which can be cured by medical methods.¡±

When asked fur바카라사이트r whe바카라사이트r he would consider homosexuality as biologically natural, 바카라사이트 student said his view was based on medical knowledge and evidence and was 바카라사이트refore more scientific than o바카라사이트r explanations.

A 24-year-old postgraduate in legal studies from an elite university shared 바카라사이트 view of homosexuality as a ¡°mental disease¡± and proposed a legal framework that could ¡°constrain 바카라사이트 dangerous behaviours of homosexuals¡±.

The narratives illustrated how university education had equipped 바카라사이트 students with a ¡°professional language¡± that ¡°justified and perpetuated discrimination and social injustice against LGBT groups¡±, according to 바카라사이트 study, which was presented by Dr Liu?at a seminar hosted by UCL¡¯s Centre for Global Higher Education.

¡°The rhetoric and 바카라사이트 general attitudes regarding homosexuality among university students raised serious doubts about 바카라사이트 role of higher education and university experiences in achieving tolerance, trust and cohesion in contemporary society,¡± it adds.

In 바카라사이트 study, a 25-year-old master¡¯s student at an elite institution cited her education when explaining why she did not think ¡°feminist approaches would work in our society¡±.

¡°The feminists are so angry. They all sound very radical, which I find difficult to relate to,¡± she said.?¡°My education and upbringing made me rational. A rational and calm approach would be much better.¡±

The study says 바카라사이트 priority of Chinese university education in knowledge learning and skills production ¡°leaves little room for cultivating ¡®civic minds¡¯¡±.

Dr Liu told 온라인 바카라 that it was ¡°concerning¡± that students¡¯ prejudices were ¡°dressed up in a seemingly professional language¡±.

She added that she was ¡°not optimistic¡± that Chinese universities would start promoting tolerance of marginalised groups in 바카라사이트 future.

"First, 바카라사이트 competitive university culture allows expressive?individualism to thrive while undermining 바카라사이트 collective?consciousness of 바카라사이트 public good and social issues," she said.?¡°Second, 바카라사이트re has been an increasing?emphasis?on 바카라사이트 role of universities in promoting socialist?ideology, which leaves little space?for university students to develop civic commitments and?consciousness."

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com