1. SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK
Lecture 9: Other Forms of Inequality

2. Limitations of current class studies
Missing data (unemployed people)
What is the conditions of poor people in HK?
What is their chances of moving away from poverty?
Gender Inequality
Housewife is another large sector of unemployed people in HK.
What about girls (daughters) class positions?
What are girls’ mobility path?
Is there any difference between boys’ and girls’ chances in HK?
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3. Limitations of current class studies
Racial Inequality
What are the ethnic minorities’ class positions?
Is there any differences between the local and ethnic minorities in terms of social positions?
What about the differences among different minorities groups?
What are their chances and mobility path in HK?
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5. Reasons of stay Temporary (for work): Permanent: Domestic helpers
Managerial posts
Permanent:
Marriage
Migration
during the British colonial period
After the handover
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6. Income distribution of the working population
Indians
Nepal
Pakistan
Mainland HK
<4,000
11.9
7.3
2.9
34.6
10.4
4,000-9,999
24.7
41.1
51.4
47.6
32.8
1, ,999
15.6
37.1
27.8
8.8
23.0
15,000-19,999
9.8 11
6.4
4.0
11.5
20,000-24,999
8.2
2.2
4.5
7.8
25,000-29,999
4.2
0.8
1.3
1.0
3.4
>30,000
25.6
0.6
5.8 --
11.1
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7. Causes of the inequality
Social Network in HK
Family and Community Support
Chances of Education and Training
Language problem
Cultural differences
Discrimination in the Labour market
Even if they have relevant training and well-qualified for the job, they are not being chosen by the employers
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8. Women in Hong Kong Economic and employment status
Differences in income
In 2003, estimated earned income
For female: US$ 19,593; For male: US$ 35,037
Ratio: 0.56
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9. Gender Inequality?! Reasons for the income differences:
Job/ employment segregations:
Male and female are clustered in different kinds of occupations
Male in higher ranking jobs; female in lower ranking jobs
Income inequalities:
Male and female have the same job but with different rewards.
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10. Suggested Readings:
Marger, M (2002) Social Inequality: Patterns and Processes, Boston: McGraw Hill ch.12
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