SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK Lecture 8: Middle Class Studies
L8: Class Studies in late 1980s Change of Class Structure The general improvement of living standard The Rise of Middle Classes in Hong Kong
L8: The Rise of Middle Class Middle Class Studies Characters of the new middle class Who are they? Do they have specific quality? Political attitudes and orientation Migration studies Hong Kong identities
L8: Middle Class Occupation: Job Nature: Leisure and consumption: Culture: Social role:
L8: The New Middle Class in HK Demographic background: Local baby boomers Local education Baptized by western culture
L8: Local born people by age, 1966 Age groupLocal born >60 % of total population From 1966 census (Lui, 2002, p. 426)
L8: A popular legend – Sam Hui Local born Influenced by Western culture University graduate
L8: The New Middle Class in HK Social characteristics: Higher education/ professional training Hard-working A Representation of “Hong Kong Dream”
L8: housewifeImmigrant in the 1950’s Factory working daughter University graduate – New middle class New immigrant - Ah Charn Building up Hong Kong Identities HK YAN
L8: The New Middle Class in HK Social and Political Attitudes: Relations with other classes Individualistic Apolitical Emigration Kai Tak airport
L8: Mobility Studies in late 1980s Further questions: Did the majority HK people become members of the new middle-class? Who had moved up, and who had not? What made them to move up? Are there bundles of opportunities for people to move up the social ladder?
L8: Readings: Leung, Benjamin K. P. (1994) “Class and Class Formation in Hong Kong Studies,” in S.K. Lau, et al. (ed.) Inequalities and Development: Social Stratification in Chinese Societies Optional Readings (for your interests): 呂大樂, 黃偉邦 (1998) 階級分析與香港, 第三至九章