From gamers to players: Chinese Generation Z's perspectives on minors dropping out of school to become professional esports players

The research selected responses from Generation Z users on a Chinese question-and-answer website Zhihu, regarding the question ‘My younger brother wants to quit high school to pursue a career as an esports player, should I support him?’ as the primary research data. Utilizing the Social Cognitive Career Theory, the study delved into Generation Z's perspectives on abandoning academic pursuits to become professional esports players, from the aspects of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals as a reflection of Generation Z's career outlook. Generation Z generally finds esports players extremely attractive, but fierce competition, uncertainty about career prospects, and pressure from societal perceptions and family expectations form a challenging career choice. Most Generation Z believe minors should remain rational, but a few Generation Z still think it's okay to give it a try. The study found that Generation Z's view of careers is a combination of romanticism and pragmatism; they cannot completely escape from considerations of career stability and social expectations, but they also value the pursuit of personal interests and the fulfilment of their passions. This duality reflects the inherent contradictions and struggles of Generation Z when confronted with traditional career concepts and modern values. This contradiction is particularly prominent in an emerging and uncertain field such as esports. This study provides profound insights into the underlying motivations of Generation Z's career choices and offers valuable implications for the evolution of societal norms and reforms in employment systems in the future.