neijuan

Neijuan ( IPA: ) is the Chinese calque of the English word involution. Neijuan is written with two characters which mean 'inside' and 'rolling'. Neijuan describes that an uneven distribution of social, economic, and educational resources and ongoing economic malaise, especially in terms of higher education bodies and labor markets, has disseminated to nearly all walks of life in mainland China in the early 21st century. Neijuan reflects a life of being overworked, stressed, anxious and feeling trapped, a lifestyle where many face the negative effects of living a very competitive life for nothing.

== Origin and conceptualization == Involution was developed as a sociological concept by American anthropologist Alexander Goldenweiser in his 1937 book Anthropology: An Introduction To Primitive Culture. In this work, Goldenweiser identifies involution as a cultural process. That when a society reaches its final form it cannot evolve nor stabilize itself. Instead, it can only complicate its internal elements. Goldenweiser uses Māori decorative art as an example. The development of art was done within the framework of already existing patterns. The final pieces were elaborate and complicated in appearance but fundamentally the same as existing art.