Abstract
This essay reviews post-1980 research on class stratification, socioeconomic inequalities, and social mobility in the People's Republic of China. Chinese class stratification has transformed from a rigid status hierarchy under Mao to an open, evolving class system in the post-Mao period. Socioeconomic inequalities have also been altered. State redistributive inequalities are giving way to patterns increasingly generated by how individuals and groups succeed in a growing market-oriented economy; rigorous empirical studies have been conducted on occupational prestige, income distribution, housing and consumption, and gender inequality. Finally, occupational mobility, a rare opportunity under Mao, is becoming a living experience for many Chinese in light of emerging labor markets. Scholarly works on status attainment, career mobility, and employment processes show both stability and change in the once politicized social mobility regime. There is relatively richer research output on urban than on rural China, despite the greater and more profound transformations that occurred in rural China.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 91-116 |
| Number of pages | 26 |
| Journal | Annual Review of Sociology |
| Volume | 28 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 19 2002 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- China class
- Inequality
- Mobility
Cite this
Chinese social stratification and social mobility. / Bian, Yanjie.
In: Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 28, 19.11.2002, p. 91-116.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Chinese social stratification and social mobility
AU - Bian, Yanjie
PY - 2002/11/19
Y1 - 2002/11/19
N2 - This essay reviews post-1980 research on class stratification, socioeconomic inequalities, and social mobility in the People's Republic of China. Chinese class stratification has transformed from a rigid status hierarchy under Mao to an open, evolving class system in the post-Mao period. Socioeconomic inequalities have also been altered. State redistributive inequalities are giving way to patterns increasingly generated by how individuals and groups succeed in a growing market-oriented economy; rigorous empirical studies have been conducted on occupational prestige, income distribution, housing and consumption, and gender inequality. Finally, occupational mobility, a rare opportunity under Mao, is becoming a living experience for many Chinese in light of emerging labor markets. Scholarly works on status attainment, career mobility, and employment processes show both stability and change in the once politicized social mobility regime. There is relatively richer research output on urban than on rural China, despite the greater and more profound transformations that occurred in rural China.
AB - This essay reviews post-1980 research on class stratification, socioeconomic inequalities, and social mobility in the People's Republic of China. Chinese class stratification has transformed from a rigid status hierarchy under Mao to an open, evolving class system in the post-Mao period. Socioeconomic inequalities have also been altered. State redistributive inequalities are giving way to patterns increasingly generated by how individuals and groups succeed in a growing market-oriented economy; rigorous empirical studies have been conducted on occupational prestige, income distribution, housing and consumption, and gender inequality. Finally, occupational mobility, a rare opportunity under Mao, is becoming a living experience for many Chinese in light of emerging labor markets. Scholarly works on status attainment, career mobility, and employment processes show both stability and change in the once politicized social mobility regime. There is relatively richer research output on urban than on rural China, despite the greater and more profound transformations that occurred in rural China.
KW - China class
KW - Inequality
KW - Mobility
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036025760&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036025760&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1146/annurev.soc.28.110601.140823
DO - 10.1146/annurev.soc.28.110601.140823
M3 - Review article
VL - 28
SP - 91
EP - 116
JO - Annual Review of Sociology
JF - Annual Review of Sociology
SN - 0360-0572
ER -