Post on 22-Dec-2015
SOSC 103DSocial Inequality in HK
Lecture 6: Class Inequality
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Class Structure
Class Brief DescriptionService/
I Higher managerial & professional occupations
Upper-M
II Lower managerial & professional
III Intermediate (white collar) occupationsMiddle IV Small employers and own-account
workersV Lower-grade technicians, supervisors
Manual/
VI Skilled manual workers
Working
VII Semi-skilled to unskilled workers, agricultural
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Inequality and class
“ Class is not something that is simply produced economically. It is performed, marked, written on minds and bodies”
– Roberts, 2001:9
Dimensions of class: Skills and Qualification Job Nature Income and Wealth Job Satisfaction Employment opportunity/ security
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Class inequality Inequality in Health and Life
Expectancy Inequality in Family Structure &
Composition Inequality in Children’s Education
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Education opportunities
貧童遊行要求 15年免費教育 (明報 ) 02 月 20日
40多家境貧困的學童及家長,昨日到禮賓府向特首拜年,要求政府推行 15年免費教育及增加學生資助及綜援學習津貼。
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Class inequality (cont’) Inequality in Time-Use Inequality in Leisure
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Class inequality (cont’) Inequality in Housing Inequality in Consumption
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Class differences in everyday consumption
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Time Square
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Class-stratified consumption
Distinction of everyday life consumption
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Alcohol & Social Class
The hierarchy of drinks (Ma Kit-Wai)
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Daily practice of class distinction
There is a hierarchy of consumption/ products
Attach with taste Attach with class identity Maintain the distinctiveness Conscious use of taste consumption to
reinforce class style
Consumption reflects and builds up class identity
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Distinction of Residence
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Readings:
Argyle, Michael (1994) “Work, leisure and lifestyle” in The Psychology of Social Class, Ch. 5
Optional Readings (for your interests): Ma, K.W. (2001) “The hierarchy of drinks: Alcohol and
social class in Hong Kong” in G. Mathews and Lui, T.L. (eds) Consuming Hong Kong, pp.117-139
Ng, C.H. (1995) “Consumption and the Hong Kong way of life” in Lau, S.K. et al (eds) Indicators of Social development: Hong Kong 1993, pp.334-365.