By Valerie Sartor

Guanxi is not universally distributed across Chinese society.

Different types of people, different social classes and even different genders employ guanxi uniquely. Nevertheless, guanxi tactics are prevalent and common in everyday life throughout China.

Because guanxi cultivation involves a great deal of social interactions with people of both sexes, a common opinion among Chinese people holds that it is not good for a woman’s reputation.

Even today Chinese women are not encouraged to run around outside their homes to different work units, offices, bars, and private homes. It’s considered unseemly.

Ancient traditions secluded women from the public eye. Contemporary females have much more freedom but their virtue and reputations still fall under public scrutiny.

“Married women who flutter about making connections will cause gossip,” a Chinese friend said, adding, “Especially if she’s dealing with a lot of men.”

Yet, women are free to cultivate guanxi from neighbors, kin, family friends and their children’s teachers, because this is the traditional domain for females.

Women remain active in family rituals, arranging guanxi for marriages, graduations, funerals and other functions that promote harmonious social relationships between the family and kin. In this sense, guanxi is closer to renqing; it is less aggressive and more family oriented. Furthermore, women are still considered as dependents in Chinese society, so many men will feel obliged to “take care of them” by acceding to a request.

But men will sometimes ask women to pull guanxi - la guanxi - for them because of this warmer feeling women generate, and because male Chinese traditionally do not want to embarrass a woman by refusing her request. In fact, it’s quite common to send a woman if the guanxi target is a male, and to send a younger man if the guanxi target is an older woman. The Chinese have a saying: Tong xing xiang chi: yi xing xiang xi - Same sexes repel: opposite sexes attract.

Class ranking also plays a role in how guanxi is used. Going through the back door to get extra food or even basic supplies, such as coal, is something workers do when times are tough. It’s a kind of informal bartering system.

But officials who use the “big backdoor” to get their children visas to study abroad, or places in high ranking universities, creates a great deal of resentment among the common people. For this reason the official discourse denigrates guanxi in the media. Regular news accounts expose “corrupt” officials who abuse their power to obtain unfair advantages and personal favors.

Many Chinese have mixed feelings over intellectuals/teachers and how they employ guanxi. Traditionally artists and teachers are highly respected in Chinese society, but most university professors, for example, are very busy and very poor. Some Chinese feel that intellectuals are more interested in knowledge and fame than wealth, and that this class of people is generally timid and modest. This perception traces back to Confucian scholarly ethics.

Yet scholars must live and eat like the rest of the population. One Beijing university friend confessed: “I want my kids to study at the best schools, and to study abroad in Australia; guanxi helps.”

So, no matter what rank or job a Chinese person holds, guanxi can be used to get things. For example, in the past, during the Cultural Revolution, Chinese of all ranks utilized guanxi to obtain goods that were in short supply. Some high ranking officials pulled guanxi to get better prices for goods, or better quality goods.

In the past, and continuing to the present, Chinese employ guanxi to secure a job, or to transfer from one job to another. Sometimes guanxi can even spark promotions and extra benefits. A Chinese friend recently spent weeks trying to locate the proper guanxi connection to approach so that his son would be transferred to a comfortable position after he had graduated from a mediocre military academy. He had to offer a large sum of money for this favor. In contrast, two cadres, each wanting something from the other, may simply exchange favors; no money will change hands.

Another use for guanxi is to maintain good health. Although China has made great social strides, low cost health care is often disparaged. Getting into a good hospital, visiting a famous doctor, or simply receiving a bed in a crowded work unit clinic – these things can all be obtained via guanxi channels.

Sometimes doctors are a good source of valuable or rare medicines, so they will be cultivated. Desperate people seeking care will go to great lengths. Cold-blooded doctors accepting bribes versus harried practitioners predisposed to help those they are obligated to can be very obscure at times.

Another basic need is housing. Whether a Chinese worker gets housing through his work unit or buys it through municipal channels, guanxi can help speed up that process. House repairs may also be obtained faster in this way as well. For this reason, housing leaders for work units are frequent targets of guanxi overtures.

Guanxi tactics can also promote political security. This is very important in China. Comrades who have received favors are less likely to make political reports about the donor. Some Chinese have said that guanxi can help people gain access into the party, or in advancing political careers.

Drivers are also frequent recipients of guanxi. Getting rides, hauling heavy things, and other kinds of friendly help all make drivers into people worth cultivation. Having friends and connections with railway and airline employees is invaluable for obtaining precious berths, especially during crowded holiday seasons.

Finally, guanxi can be used for entertainment purposes. Tickets for plays, movies and special events are available if one knows the right person. Sometimes this is the actual ticket seller. Sometimes this is the right cadre who is assigned to distribute tickets.

China is a very crowded country. Space and seats are limited, yet knowing the right person makes space magically appear.

    Channel: Local Wisdom     |