Leisure class stratification among Chinese residents: Evidence from the CGSS

Weifei  Li; Xuping  Wang; Jianyun  Zhu

doi:10.59400/jps.v2i1.1126

Leisure class stratification among Chinese residents: Evidence from the CGSS

Weifei Li Business School Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
Xuping Wang Business School Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
Jianyun Zhu Business School Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China

Ariticle ID: 1126

8 Views, 1 PDF Downloads

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/jps.v2i1.1126

Keywords: leisure class stratification; China; measurement

Abstract

Amidst rapid societal progression in China, leisure has become a crucial component of Chinese residents’ daily lives. However, the unequal distribution of social resources across social strata significantly affects their leisure patterns and practices. This study utilizes data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) spanning 2006, 2010, and 2017, analyzing the frequency and types of leisure engagement as dependent variables through mean, variance, and OLS regression analyses. The findings indicate considerable leisure stratification within Chinese society, both subjectively and objectively; there are significant differences in leisure participation frequency and type among different social strata, particularly in developed leisure activities. The conclusions of this study may aid in understanding the current state of leisure class stratification among Chinese residents, while its practical recommendations could help mitigate the issues of leisure stratification within Chinese society.

References

[1] Song R, Jin Z, Li W, Wu J. Leisure green book: China’s leisure development report 2019-2020. Social Sciences Academic Press; 2020.

[2] Luo H, Kang Y, Zeng X. “996” or “2.5”: Cross-country evidence on how leisure time affects economic growth. Journal of Tourism Studies. 2024; 39(1): 147-163. doi: 10.19765/j.cnki.1002-5006.2024.01.016

[3] Xing Z, Chen X. Study on the relationship between leisure, work importance, and residents’ happiness. Journal of Tourism Studies. 2024; 1: 1-15. doi: 10.19765/j.cnki.1002-5006.2024.00.00

[4] Liu D, Gao S, Song R. China leisure development report. Social Sciences Academic Press; 2015.

[5] Ma H. Lifestyles in social transition. JinYang Journal. 2013; (05): 36-43.

[6] Ni X, Gao K. Activating leisure time: review and prospects for research on leisure reshaping. Foreign Economics & Management. 2024; 1: 1-27. doi: 10.16538/j.cnki.fem.20231122.302

[7] Wei J, Wang Q. The impact of leisure time on employees’ work performance: A case study of Beijing. Beijing Social Sciences. 2022; 3: 34-44. doi: 10.13262/j.bjsshkxy.bjshkx.220304

[8] Wei X. Labor productivity and optimal holiday scheduling: Models, simulations, and empirical research. Research on Economics and Management. 2023; 44(11): 84-103. doi: 10.13502/j.cnki.issn1000-7636.2023.11.005

[9] Kleiber DA, Walker GJ, Mannell RC. A social psychology of leisure. Venture; 2011.

[10] Kelly JR. Leisure Identities and Interactions. Routledge; 2019. doi: 10.4324/9780429025846

[11] Lin X. Structural forms of family consumption stratification in China: A latent class analysis based on CFPS 2016. Shandong Social Sciences. 2020; 3: 48-58. doi: 10.14112/j.cnki.37-1053/c.2020.03.005

[12] Li Q. Ten Lectures on Social Stratification. Social Sciences Academic Press; 2011.

[13] Chen N, Tsai CTL. Rural-Urban Divide and the Social Stratification in Leisure Participation in China: Application of Multiple Hierarchy Stratification Perspective. Applied Research in Quality of Life. 2019; 15(5): 1535-1548. doi: 10.1007/s11482-019-09750-z

[14] Wang F, Zhang C. Urban residents’ class status and consumption preferences in China (2003-2013). Social Sciences. 2018; (4): 65-76. doi: 10.13644/j.cnki.cn31-1112.2018.04.007

[15] Lamont M, Beljean S, Clair M. What is missing? Cultural processes and causal pathways to inequality. Socio-Economic Review. 2014; 12(3): 573-608. doi: 10.1093/ser/mwu011

[16] Shaw BA, Liang J, Krause N, et al. Age Differences and Social Stratification in the Long-Term Trajectories of Leisure-Time Physical Activity. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. 2010; 65B(6): 756-766. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbq073

[17] Rojek C. Leisure Theory. Palgrave Macmillan; 2005.

[18] Blackshaw T. Routledge Handbook of Leisure Studies. Routledge; 2015.

[19] Bowles D. Toward an Integrated Theory of Social Stratification. The American Journal of Economics and Sociology. 2012; 72(1): 32-58. doi: 10.1111/j.1536-7150.2012.00870.x

[20] Katz-Gerro T, Shavit Y. The Stratification of Leisure and Taste: Classes and Lifestyles in Israel. European Sociological Review. 1998; 14(4): 369-386. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.esr.a018245

[21] Kegler MC, Gauthreaux N, Hermstad A, et al. Inequities in Physical Activity Environments and Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Rural Communities. Preventing Chronic Disease. 2022; 19. doi: 10.5888/pcd19.210417

[22] Jäckel M, Wollscheid S. Time is Money and Money Needs Time? A Secondary Analysis of Time-Budget Data in Germany. Journal of Leisure Research. 2007; 39(1): 86-108. doi: 10.1080/00222216.2007.11950099

[23] Linder SB. The Harried Leisure Classes. Columbia University; 1970.

[24] Spracklen K. Leisure, Sports & Society. Bloomsbury; 2017.

[25] Attanasio O, Hurst E, Pistaferri L. Evolution of Income, Consumption, and Leisure Inequality in the US 1980-2010. University of Chicago Press; 2014.

[26] Li C. Consumption stratification in contemporary Chinese society. Journal of Sun Yat-Sen University. 2007; 4: 8-13.

[27] Wang Y, Liu E, Xu L. Urban leisure: An investigation of time allocation among residents of Shanghai, Tianjin, and Harbin. Social Sciences Academic Press; 2003.

[28] Wang F. Family capital and parenting: Class differences in adolescent physical activity. Sports Science. 2019; 39(3): 48-57. doi: 10.16469/j.css.201903006

[29] Ma C. Cultural construction and class differences in sports leisure among post-80s professional women in Changsha. China Youth Study. 2016; 7: 92-97. doi: 10.19633/j.cnki.11-2579/d.2016.07.015

[30] Bu Y, Zhou W, Zhao G, et al. Study on social stratification and sports participation, preferences, and stratification in China. China Sports Science and Technology. 2015; 51(05): 78-93. doi: 10.16470/j.csst.201505013

[31] Qi L, Zhou S. Spatio-temporal characteristics of leisure behavior outside the home among different social classes in Guangzhou. Regional Research and Development. 2017; 36(05): 57-63.

[32] Zhou L. Leisure segmentation: Social stratification mechanisms and generational differences in leisure participation in China. Journal of Sichuan University of Science & Engineering. 2020; 35(06): 17-36.

[33] Xu W, Zhu J. Trends and factors in class-based sports participation. Sports Science Research. 2020; 34(1): 77-86. doi: 10.15877/j.cnki.nsic.20200305.001

[34] Zhang C, Zhao Z, Wang T. Private schools, school district housing premium, and spatial distribution of basic education resources. Economics Quarterly. 2022; 22(04): 1383-1404.

[35] Shi Y, Han Z. Study on residents’ leisure quality under time constraints: A micro analysis based on CTUS. Guizhou Social Sciences. 2023; 4: 123-131. doi: 10.13713/j.cnki.cssci.2023.04.021

[36] Wang W, Zhang Y. Has the digital economy alleviated cultural consumption inequality? Evidence from Chinese families. Social Science Front. 2023; 11: 86-96.

[37] Wang Q, Wei J. Study on inequality in residents’ leisure consumption: A case study of Beijing. Economic Theory and Business Management. 2019; 5: 103-112.

[38] Yan D, Luo C. Expenditure elasticity, consumption upgrading, and consumption inequality. Journal of Beijing Technology and Business University. 2023; 38(02): 100-113.

[39] Wang M, Zhou C. Capital and Segregation: A study on the stratification mechanisms of youth leisure participation in China. Journal of Jinan University. 2023; 33(2): 112-127. doi: 10.20004/j.cnki.ujn.2023.02.008.

[40] Wang F. Status Constraints and lifestyle transformation: Potential categories of healthy lifestyle among different social strata in China. Sociological Research. 2017; 32(6): 117-140.

[41] Ning Z, Zhao P & Luo Z. An Analysis of the Leisure Behaviors of Beijing Residents with Different Occupations under the Background of the Transformation of Social Developmen. Journal of Tourism Studies. 2009; 24(6): 46-52.

[42] Lu, X, Wu, Y. Sports leisure participation and international comparison of Shanghai’s middle class. Journal of Capital University of Physical Education and Sports. 2018; 30(1): 10-17.

[43] Liu J, Lai S, Zhang Y. Study on social stratification in youth sports exercise. Youth Studies. 2023; 5: 56-68.

[44] Li Z. Study on Leisure diversity stratification among youth groups. Journal of Hebei University. 2021; 46(2): 133-140.

[45] Yao H. Social stratification and leisure consumption in China. Open Journal of Business and Management. 2019; 8(1): 1.

[46] Xiao C. Culture Capital and Class Identification. Journal of Chinese Academy of Governance. 2016; (6): 59-64.

[47] Duan J. Cultural compartmentalisation and judgement of taste: Bourdieu’s theory of cultural compartmentalisation and its aesthetic critique. Social Science Journal. 2021; 6: 175-181.

[48] Cai Z. Social Capital, Family Education Aspiration and Class Mobility: Based on the Empirical Analysis and Thoughts on CFPS. Research in Educational Development. 2021; 41(20): 9-21.

[49] Yu H. How to Cultivate Successful People from Poor Families on the Breakthrough of Class Restrictions from the Cultural Capital Perspective. Journal of Higher Education. 2018; 39(02): 8-16.

[50] Pan H. Socio-economic status, intergenerational transmission effect and inequality reproduction: based on data from CGSS2011. Journal of Central South University (Social Sciences). 2015; 21(3): 152-157.

[51] Liu Y. An Analysis of the Problem of Father Involvement in Parenting in Family Education. Journal of Western. 2021; (19): 113-115.

Published

2024-07-19

How to Cite

Li, W., Wang, X., & Zhu, J. (2024). Leisure class stratification among Chinese residents: Evidence from the CGSS. Journal of Policy and Society, 2(1), 1126. https://doi.org/10.59400/jps.v2i1.1126

Download Citation

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors contributing to this journal agree to publish their articles under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, allowing third parties to share their work (copy, distribute, transmit) and to adapt it for any purpose, even commercially, under the condition that the authors are given credit. With this license, authors hold the copyright.

The rapid increase in the use of disposable baby diapers in urban areas is associated with a number of environmental challenges. This study assesses the environmental challenges of disposable baby diapers in Hwange, Zimbabwe. Questionnaires, interviews, and field observations were used for data collection in this study. Data collected from the field was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 and Microsoft Excel. The study findings show that pollution, diseases, and odours are the major challenges of poor waste management associated with disposable baby diapers in Hwange ZPC residential areas. The study recommends the involvement of responsible authorities in conscientious recycling and education on waste management. The research also recommends the need to conduct longitudinal research to establish the position of local and central government in the bid to promote a safe and healthy environment in mining towns such as Hwange, as they are overlooked.

COVID-19 affected various communities across the globe in different ways. The study assessed the impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on domestic violence in Southlea-Park residential area in Harare. A mixed methods research design was adopted as it allowed use of both qualitative and quantitative data collection approaches. Questionnaires, interviews and observations were employed for data collection. The research showed that DV in Southlea Park residential area emanated from drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, and conflicts over decision- making between parents, prostitution and food insufficiency among others. The study indicated that most dominant forms of DV in Southlea Park during the COVID-19 lockdown period included physical, emotional and verbal violence. The findings from this study indicated that males suffered more from verbal and psychological violence whilst females suffered more from physical, economic, sexual and emotional violence. The research concludes that COVID-19 had massive influence on domestic violence, however, the Zimbabwe Republic Police should ensure deployment of police officers in temporally camps within or close to residential areas that are far from police stations to ensure public safety during situations that trigger domestic and other forms of violence in residential areas and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development in Zimbabwe should ensure availability of agents responsible for ensuring against vulnerability of people to gender, domestic and other forms of violence in all communities of the country especially during situations that trigger violence.

The study assessed land use/cover changes in Upper Runnde sub-catchment in Zimbabwe between 2000 and 2020 using GIS and remote sensing techniques with the support of interviews and field observations. Faster land use/cover changes were experienced within the 2000–2010 decade when compared to the 2010–2020 decade for instance bare land increased by 92.1% between 2000–2010 compared to 16.5% between 2010–2020. Major land cover transformations included change from forest land to bare land, grassland and shrub land, change from grassland to bare and shrub land to grassland. The results confirmed conversion of forests to agricultural lands and settlements following the fast track land reform program in 2000 and livestock increase induced overgrazing as major human activities driving land cover changes. There is a need for serious attention from resource management stakeholders before depletion of critical resources like water and woodlands. Therefore, The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority may consider strict auditing of land uses and water resource use in catchment areas to guard against encroachment of agriculture and other land uses in protected lands and fragile ecosystems like water bodies and wetlands.