1. SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK Lecture 22: Subjective side of social inequality

2. L22: 27.11.06 Objective side of inequality Easily measurable 1. Inequality in distribution (material resources) –E.g. income differences among occupations; conditions of poverty 2. Inequality in opportunities (life chances) –E.g. different opportunities for upward mobility; different experiences in school and at home

3. L22: 27.11.06 Subjective side of inequality People’s perception of the (objective) inequality:  Personal determinants of distributional order  Value on social equality  Perception of the trend and seriousness of social inequality  Perception of the reasons for and the consequences of inequality

4. L22: 27.11.06 Distributional orderings Justification of the distributive system Occupation determines –social status (respectfulness and power) –one’s income (material resources)  Based on what criteria that you and I use to assess the status/ value of an occupation  What is the subjective hierarchical order of occupations

5. L22: 27.11.06 Considering factors: Professional training/ academic qualification Contribution to society/ serving the public Salary Prospect of the job

6. L22: 27.11.06 Findings on people’s formulation of distributional orderings A. People’s subjective hierarchical order matches with their belief system –Professionalism and education are most important for gaining high social status B. The subjective hierarchy of occupation matches with the objective hierarchy –The legitimacy of current distributive system

7. L22: 27.11.06 Attitudes towards equality Expectation on the role of Government The degree of acceptance of inequality It affects the support and consensus of implementation of social policies

8. L22: 27.11.06 Attitudes towards social equalities

9. L22: 27.11.06 Subjective side of inequality (cont’) To identify the potential group differences in attitudes towards inequality An important way to detect the unstable elements in our society  Who/ which groups are having the strongest sense of inequality  Who/ which groups are having a sense of injustice