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In the realm of educational research, the investigation of disparities has long been a focal point, yet the intricate interplay between sociocultural factors and educational outcomes remains under-explored. This paper scrutinizes the nexus between educational inequality and cultural openness in China's distinctive socioeconomic framework. Anchored in the theory of social reproduction and leveraging economic sociology, the research adopts a qualitative analysis of the sociocultural milieu's impact on out-school education, positing that regional economic disparities culminate in varied degrees of cultural openness, which in turn shape the 'enlightenment level' of individuals. The study reveals that cultural openness significantly influences the distribution of educational resources, thereby affecting student performance and teacher quality, creating a feedback loop that exacerbates educational disparities. Conclusively, the paper asserts that regional economic heterogeneity and resultant sociocultural dynamics are central to educational inequality. It calls for a multifaceted scholarly approach to address these disparities, suggesting that enhancing cultural openness through societal transformation may be as critical as economic interventions to mitigate educational inequities.
Jingbo Yao (2024) studied this question.