Producing social honor through the hierarchy of study abroad: evidence from Chinese middle class

Employing David Riesman's theory of social character, this study examines how China's middle class produces social honor through a hierarchically structured preference for overseas study destinations. Based on semi-structured interviews, our research identifies three distinct logics underlying honor production. The tradition-directed logic emphasizes pragmatism and collectivist values, the inner-directed logic centers on intergenerational cultural transmission, and the other-directed logic prioritizes consumption experience and social media visibility. These logics do not operate in isolation but interact within a hybrid framework, shaped by China's compressed modernity. Key actors engage in strategic negotiations, collectively constructing honor as a dynamic and contested consensus. This study moves beyond frameworks of conspicuous consumption and cultural capital by revealing the socio-psychological mechanisms through which honor is actively manufactured, offering new insights into how middle-class actors navigate globalization, identity, and stratification.