Factors That Affect The Status Of An Individual

This paper is an empirical research on the occupational status attainment. First, it describes the mobility of Chinese occupational status. Then it studies the factors that influence occupational status attainment. Finally, it compares the effects of the inborn factors with acquired factors.Domestic research on status attainment has two defects. On the one hand, they only focus on the situation of one area or occupational groups rather than using a nationwide survey data. On the other hand, even though they use the nationwide data sometimes, the selected variables are not enough. This article doesn’t have these defects. It can be said that it’s a synthetical research above two kinds of ideas. It not only has a national perspective, but also has a deeply thinking.The conclusions of this study are mainly the following points: 1.The degree of social mobility in China is high; the individuals have a lot of opportunities to change their status. Judging from the perspective of social mobility, Chinese society is modern and open. 2. The inborn factors are important factors. Father’s occupational status and educational level affects the occupational status attainment of the respondents. 3. The effects of acquired factors are significant. The educational level of social members has a very significant impact on their occupational class status. Higher education level is an important factor which promotes people to flow to a higher level of occupational class. 4. The effects of inborn factors are less than those of the acquired factors. 5. The effects of political status on personal occupational status cannot be ignored.6.The household types of families where they are born have a significant impact on their occupational status attainment. 7. The gender factor has a significant impact on occupational status attainment.