“Elder siblings assist younger ones in going to college”: the moral mission and choice of first-generation college students in rural China

Unlike the independent path of first-generation college students in the West, first-generation college students in China tend to integrate personal development with family responsibility. Using a sample of 16 first-generation college students who serve as elder siblings and the first in their family to go to college, this qualitative inquiry analyzes educational assistance among siblings in rural China. The results show that these first-generation college students emphasize family responsibility, and they provide educational assistance guided by a moral commitment to “helping each other as a family” and the expectation of “another college student in the family.” This approach aims to expand their younger siblings’ educational opportunities while compensating for their parents’ lack of cultural capital. However, they encounter various challenges throughout this journey, which are coupled with substantial psychological pressure. This study highlights a rational perspective on first-generation college students’ educational assistance to facilitate the bond within the family better and ultimately establish a pathway for individual growth, family education enhancement, and social equity.