About this Research Topic
Western sociology has been influential in sociological studies of East Asian societies, and research on social stratification, social mobility, and social inequality in East Asia is not exempt from this influence. Specialists in this field often apply the Erikson-Goldthorpe-Portocarero (EGP) class scheme to their studies of social stratification structure, intergenerational and intragenerational mobility, and inequality between social classes, among other topics.
This line of research has substantially contributed to the advancement of sociological knowledge about East Asian societies. However, the simple application of Western theories and concepts to these societies risks overlooking social characteristics specific to them, such as persistent inequality between regular and non-regular workers in Japan, very low fertility rates across East Asia, and rapidly aging populations in the region, all of which impact social stratification and inequality.
The aforementioned differences between Western and East Asian societies stem from history, culture, and institutions unique to East Asia. Therefore, when applying Western theories and concepts to studies of social stratification and inequality in East Asia, it is crucial to incorporate East Asian history, culture, and institutions to make the analysis more precise.
However, two caveats should be noted. First, emphasizing the differences between Western and East Asian societies too much may overlook the variations among East Asian societies themselves. For example, self-employment has distinct characteristics in Japan and Korea, and the meaning and status of self-employment differ significantly between the two countries (Sato and Arita 2004; Park 2010). Second, overemphasizing the differences between Western and East Asian societies could lose the interest of global readers, as they may perceive studies in this direction as being only about East Asia, thus limiting their generalizability to universal knowledge. In sum, striking a balance between particularity and universality is crucial.
With this theoretical background, we welcome high-quality papers, whether theoretical or empirical, on social stratification and social inequality in East Asian societies. The following are example topics, provided to help potential contributors understand our objectives:
• The impact of low fertility rates on social stratification and inequality in East Asia
• Why does inequality between regular and non-regular workers persist in Japan?
• Do traditional values and culture in East Asia mitigate intergenerational conflict?
This line of research has substantially contributed to the advancement of sociological knowledge about East Asian societies. However, the simple application of Western theories and concepts to these societies risks overlooking social characteristics specific to them, such as persistent inequality between regular and non-regular workers in Japan, very low fertility rates across East Asia, and rapidly aging populations in the region, all of which impact social stratification and inequality.
The aforementioned differences between Western and East Asian societies stem from history, culture, and institutions unique to East Asia. Therefore, when applying Western theories and concepts to studies of social stratification and inequality in East Asia, it is crucial to incorporate East Asian history, culture, and institutions to make the analysis more precise.
However, two caveats should be noted. First, emphasizing the differences between Western and East Asian societies too much may overlook the variations among East Asian societies themselves. For example, self-employment has distinct characteristics in Japan and Korea, and the meaning and status of self-employment differ significantly between the two countries (Sato and Arita 2004; Park 2010). Second, overemphasizing the differences between Western and East Asian societies could lose the interest of global readers, as they may perceive studies in this direction as being only about East Asia, thus limiting their generalizability to universal knowledge. In sum, striking a balance between particularity and universality is crucial.
With this theoretical background, we welcome high-quality papers, whether theoretical or empirical, on social stratification and social inequality in East Asian societies. The following are example topics, provided to help potential contributors understand our objectives:
• The impact of low fertility rates on social stratification and inequality in East Asia
• Why does inequality between regular and non-regular workers persist in Japan?
• Do traditional values and culture in East Asia mitigate intergenerational conflict?
Keywords: Social Stratification, Intergenerational Mobility, Cultural Influences, Inequalities, Social Classes
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
