Educational Involution from the Perspective of Social Stratification Theory: Manifestations, Causes, and Breakthrough Paths

Abstract

Educational involution has become an important issue affecting family consumption levels, parental leisure welfare, and students' physical and mental health. Therefore, this article explores the manifestations and main causes of educational involution from the perspective of social stratification theory. Specifically, basic education involution aims to acquire or consolidate a unified identity, higher education involution seeks to obtain a special identity, and involution in social tutoring and overseas education enhances capital for academic advancement. "Involutionary" education has become the most common way for residents to achieve social mobility, so the key to solving educational involution lies not within the education sector itself but outside it. Proposed solutions include: accelerating the development of multi-center metropolitan areas, continuously enhancing the inclusiveness of core cities in large metropolitan areas, reducing development gaps between metropolitan areas, strengthening the voice of lower-tier residents within metropolitan areas, and effectively balancing professional status and income levels.