A New Perspective Of Chinese Rural Stratification In Social Transition Based On The Family Unit

Rural stratification is a focus in the present sociological research in China. And the discussion about it is mainly of "8 classes". The author proposes that this kind of stratification regards the individual as its fundamental unit and profession as its main standard, which has its special value and perspective. However the author thinks that family can also be regarded as the fundamental unit in social stratification at present. This is not only because China is a nation caring family value from the ancient time, a collectivism-oriented society, but also because family is an economic community, an income and consumption unit, which can be clearly seen in the undeveloped rural region.In the first part of this thesis, the author analyzes the individualism stratification method and points out that this kind of stratification perspective can help us see the speed and direction of the social change. But it has its limits because of the instability of China peasants' profession and of the difference between regions. But the perspective that regards family as its fundamental unit can make up these defects. The author puts forward her new stratification method based on the discussion above.The second part describes the validity of the new stratification method. There are four reasons. Fust, in Chinese tradition, family is integrity. Second, at present, family is a benefit unit. Third, family stratification exits for a long time, which is not a new theory in fact. And last, rural society in china has its specialty.The third part employs the new stratification method to stratify Sha Cun which is a small village in Henan Province. The author regards that all thefamilies in Sha Cun can be stratified into three classes according to per person income of every family. They are rich family class, middle family class and poor family class. And finally the author provides the percentage of every class.The last part is the conclusion. The author thinks that the new stratification method can help us know about Chinese peasants' actual living standard, poverty phenomenon and the disparity between the rich and the poor. Moreover, the author analyzes several kinds of factors that effect family stratification. And at last the author regards that stratifying the rural society by using the new perspective is not the final aim but a tool for knowing about the china's rural society and dealing with the rural problems.