Chinese Journal of Sociology

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The New Generation of Migrant Workers: Social Attitudes and Behavioral Choices

Author 1: Li Peilin, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Sociology Division, EInstitute of Shanghai University. Author 2: Tian Feng, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.   

  1. Author 1: Li Peilin, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Author 2: Tian Feng, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
  • Online:2011-05-20 Published:2011-05-20
  • Contact: Li Peilin, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Sociology Division, EInstitute of Shanghai University E-mail:Li Peilin@cass.org.cn;
  • About author:Author 1: Li Peilin, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Sociology Division, EInstitute of Shanghai University. Author 2: Tian Feng, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

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Abstract:

The new generation of migrant workers who were born after 1980 has numbered approximately 100 million. This generation is the primary group that has helped breaking down the dual urbanrural structure and speeding up urbanization in the social transformation in China. Compared with the previous generation of migrant workers, this new generation has changed tremendously in values and behavioral rules.  Based on the data from the “Chinese General Social Survey” by the Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS：CGSS 2008), this paper analyses and compares new migrant workers’ incomes, education, working skills, consumption characteristics, and social status and identity, with a focus on the impact of two important factors of “intergeneration” (new generation) and “class” (migrant workers) on the new migrant workers’ conditions, behaviors, and social attitudes, as well as the interrelationships between income, life pressure, and social attitudes. The results indicate that the change in life pressure and the enhanced awareness of individual rights have extremely important influences on the social attitudes and behavioral choices of the new generation of migrant workers.

Key words: the new generation of migrant workers, social attitudes, behavioral choices, life pressure