HKU Sociology

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲!

Prof Satoshi Araki has published an article "Education, Skills, and Intergenerational Inequality in Status Attainment: Causal Mediation Analysis and Typology of 23 OECD Countries" in the British Journal of Sociology (https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.70139). In this paper, Prof Araki examines the structure of intergenerational transmission of socioeconomic status across 23 countries, with a newly proposed framework - the OESD quadrangle - that incorporates social origin (family background), education, skills, and destination (status attainment). Using data from the OECD Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and applying causal mediation analysis, the study shows (1) education significantly mediates the association between social origin and destination in all countries; (2) adult skills also play a mediating role, net of education; and (3) the magnitude of skills varies cross-nationally, accounting for 4% (Sweden) to 25% (USA) of the total origin effect estimates. This suggests that fostering cognitive skills among the disadvantaged may help mitigate intergenerational inequality, although its impact differs across societies. By linking these cross-national patterns to key sociological concepts such as meritocracy and credentialism, Prof Araki proposes a typology of societies from a comparative perspective.

🔗https://sociology.hku.hk/news/78

𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐉𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨-𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐲

We are pleased to share that Paul Joosse (HKU, Sociology) will be co-editor of the American Sociological Association's flagship theory journal, Sociological Theory. This is the first time the journal editorship will be hosted at an institution outside of North America.

Paul Joosse’s work spans the classical/contemporary divide, putting Weber into dialogue with several schools of theory that postdate him, but which (as his efforts at translation and interpretation show) he anticipated, including the performative turn in cultural sociology, symbolic interactionism, and gender theory. Empirically, this work is informed by long-standing engagements with a range of cases, including the historical rise of environmental social movements, new religious movements (‘cults’), protest in Hong Kong, the wartime leadership of Volodymyr Zelensky, and the charismatic populism of Donald Trump. Most recently, Joosse has begun to use machine learning and agent-based simulations to answer long-standing but heretofore inaccessible theoretical questions. With this comprehensive empirical-theoretical weave, he aspires to emulate the best examples from the tradition of ‘generalist’ theory—namely, work that is broadly informed and widely relevant, and which works to increase coherence and clarity across the discipline itself.

Website:
American Sociological Association
https://www.asanet.org/paul-joosse-named-co-editor-of-sociological-theory/
HKU Sociology
https://sociology.hku.hk/news/77

𝐇𝐊𝐔 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐒𝐄 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎, 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

Researchers from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) have unveiled a transformative new dataset on human mobility, revealing that global migration has risen sharply from approximately 13 million people per year in 2000 to around 35 million in 2023. Published in the leading scientific journal Nature, the findings demonstrate that the rise in migration significantly outpaces global population growth, reflecting a true per-capita increase in human mobility.

HKU Media:
https://hku.hk/press/news_detail_29169.html

Website:
Global Annual Migration Data Explorer: https://www.socsc.hku.hk/rhps/global-migration/
Deep learning four decades of human migration: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10611-7
HKU Sociology: https://sociology.hku.hk/news/76

Why are people increasingly drawn to listening to real violence?
True crime podcasts have become one of the most influential narrative genres in contemporary digital culture, situated somewhere between entertainment, journalism, and public discussion.
But beyond “telling cases,” they also shape how violence is narrated, emotionally consumed, and morally interpreted.
At the same time, many Chinese true crime podcasts are created not by journalists or legal professionals, but by amateur creators who nonetheless acquire a certain kind of public authority in explaining crime.
The HKU Sociology Podcaster Series invites Daniel Liu & Vivian Wang (Nida Media 霓达播客) for a conversation on the cultural and social dimensions of Chinese true crime podcasting.
Discussion themes include:
• Listening to Violence
Why are audiences repeatedly drawn to real crime narratives?
• Moral Legitimacy
How do podcasters negotiate the ethics and public meaning of narrating violence?
• Gendered Narration & Amateur Authority
Who is considered “credible” enough to narrate crime?
📍 Narrating Crime: Listening to Violence, Moral Legitimacy, and Amateur Justice in Chinese True Crime Podcasts
📅 29 May 2026 (Fri)
⏰ 2:00–4:00 PM (HKT)
💻 Online via Zoom
🗣 Putonghua
Hosted by the Department of Sociology, The University of Hong Kong.
Moderators:
Prof. Wang Peng & Yinjia He
Website: https://sociology.hku.hk/events/1435fdc8-f0d9-4ba9-bde2-2b1a3870577c

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐊𝐔! 🎉

On Monday evening, our Department was filled with joy, pride, and gratitude as we gathered to mark a truly special occasion — the successful conclusion of another remarkable academic year and the 40th anniversary of our Master of Social Science in Criminology [MSocSc(Crim)] programme. On behalf of the Department, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us — our dedicated faculty, hardworking administrative staff, enthusiastic students, alumni, and friends. Your presence made this celebration truly memorable and reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing sociology education, research, and professional development.

Reflecting on our journey, we are proud to have established HKU’s Criminology master’s programme as the first of its kind in Hong Kong back in 1986. Over four decades, it has evolved to meet the changing landscape of crime and justice, attracting a diverse cohort of students from backgrounds such as law, social welfare, healthcare, and government services, all united by a passion for understanding and improving our society. Our programme’s sociological approach and practical focus continue to inspire students and practitioners alike, shaping the next generation of criminologists and justice advocates. This milestone is not just a celebration of our history but also a beacon guiding us into the future. We remain committed to fostering a dynamic learning environment that emphasizes local and global perspectives on crime and justice, cultivating critical research skills through innovative coursework, field trips, and engaging guest lectures.

A special thank you goes to our alumni and supporters who have contributed to the ongoing success of our programme, including the MSocSc Criminology Alumni Scholarship, established in 2009. Your generosity helps nurture outstanding students and promotes excellence in our community. As we look ahead, I encourage everyone to stay connected and continue supporting our mission. Whether through participation, collaboration, or donations, your involvement makes a difference.

Once again, congratulations to our graduating and current students — your dedication over the past year is truly inspiring. To our alumni and friends, thank you for being part of our journey. We are excited about what the future holds and look forward to creating more impactful moments together.

Let’s keep striving for excellence, innovation, and social impact. Here’s to many more years of growth and success for our Department and for the MSocSc(Crim) programme! 🎓🌟

Prof Tarani Chandola
Head, Department of Sociology

🔗https://sociology.hku.hk/news/75

𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩: 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧

Existing studies find that men are more likely to signal skills that involve analytical and technical capabilities, while women tend to report skills that demand interpersonal and emotional competency — a pattern commonly attributed to gender typing. We argue that this focus on horizontal differentiation obscures a more consequential vertical stratification. We propose that skill signaling is better examined as a gendered status-claiming process, governed by the prestige and economic rewards associated with these skills as much as their content. Using U.S. LinkedIn profiles, we replicate previous findings of gender typing. Yet when stratifying skills by status reveals a different pattern, we find men are more likely to signal high-status skills across all domains — including those requiring communication, relational, and emotional competencies. The disparity persists between men and women matched on labor market characteristics. The findings suggest that gender disparities in skill signaling are organized less by what competencies workers claim than by whether they claim high-status skills — a dynamic that may help explain why the growing importance of interpersonal skills has not produced commensurate gains for women.

About the speaker:

KEN-HOU LIN is Professor of Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin and author of "Divested: Inequality in the Age of Finance." Lin's primary research projects examine how economic and demographic transformations reshape the distribution of resources. He also explores how the internet emerges as both a space and a tool to help understand contemporary societies. Lin's research has appeared in American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, Annual Review of Sociology, Organization Science, Social Forces, and Demography. His research projects have been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and the Institute for New Economic Thinking.

📅 Date: Wednesday, 20 May, 2026
🕑 Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
📍 Venue: CJT-9.29
🗣️ Speaker: Prof. Ken-Hou LIN
🔗 Website: https://sociology.hku.hk/events/8f0965ca-8900-4045-9bc4-383e7b4ec8c9

𝐈𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Professor David Allen Levin. David had a long and distinguished career with HKU, joining us in 1971, retiring in 2002, and continuing as Honorary Professor (Sociology) and Visiting Associate Professor (Faculty of Business and Economics) until 2009. For nearly four decades, he established a career dedicated to research, teaching and learning, and administration. He was, for many of us, an inspiration for balancing the duties and passions of university life.

Over the years, he played a pioneering and vital role in advancing the understanding of industrial relations, labour movements, and social structures in Hong Kong. His work at HKU included numerous research projects, lectures, and mentorship that significantly enriched our academic environment. He was instrumental in exploring the challenges faced by trade unions and labour organizations in Hong Kong’s evolving economy, providing insights that continue to influence policy and scholarship. His publications—ranging from influential journal articles to book chapters—have shaped the understanding of labour relations and industrial democracy in Hong Kong.

His dedication to advancing knowledge and fostering critical discussion made him a respected teacher and scholar among colleagues and students over several generations. He was an exceptional leader and a remarkable role model, exemplifying integrity, dedication, and vision in his roles as Head of the Department (1993-1995) and Associate Dean (1997-2002).

Beyond his scholarly achievements, David, usually sporting the spirited Aloha shirt, was a warm and generous friend to all of us. His mentorship, kindness, and unwavering support created a nurturing environment that fostered growth and collaboration. His presence in our lives was a beacon of professionalism, encouraging us to think critically and act with compassion. He will be fondly remembered for generously sharing his sage and pragmatic advice from his second office at the senior common room.

As we reflect on his life, we cherish the memories of his wisdom, humour, and dedication. His humbleness remains an important reminder of the higher commitments we have to our students, university and community. Though he has departed from this world, his legacy endures through his work and the countless lives he touched. We are grateful for the privilege of knowing him and for the lasting imprint he leaves behind.

Our deepest condolences go to his family, friends, and colleagues. May his soul find peace, and may we honour his memory by continuing to uphold the values he exemplified. David’s contributions and spirit will forever remain in our hearts.

Rest in peace, dear friend and scholar.

https://sociology.hku.hk/news/74

Can a concerted push to roll out home modifications, including wheelchair ramps, chair lifts, and handrails, help reduce stress on caregivers and allow more Hong Kong residents to age in place? New research led by Professor Tarani Chandola suggests the answer is yes – especially when modifications are instituted across a given community.

“At the community level, more accessible housing can facilitate older adults’ social participation within high-rise estates and reduce isolation,” the team wrote. “At the societal level, investments in home modifications may help contain long-term care and health-care costs and promote more equitable ageing trajectories in dense urban settings.”

The study points to the importance of initiatives like the government’s “Age-Friendly Home” programme, which offers assessments and financial assistance for modifying homes to add assistive devices.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igag029
Website: https://sociology.hku.hk/news/73

𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫: 𝐎𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭

As my past research showed, the contemporary concept of „comfort“ emerged in connection with the “American way of life”. It at first referred to the comfort of cooled cinemas. After World War II it referred to the airconditioned manager-populated offices and, later, rapidly increasing number of apartments. It entered everyday language to express the limits of personal comfort in interpersonal as well as formal relations. It was Elizabeth Moss Kanter – a famous organizational sociologist – who noted the “emotional discomfort” of male managers confronted with the first generation women and minorities positioned not in subservient service jobs, but as their occupational equals. Jumping ahead to the Trumpist roll-back politics, it employed the idea of emotional discomfort to abolish government and teaching courses raising “divisive issues” such as racism or slavery. In my current research I try to identify general social category-, norm- and body-related phenomena that cause emotional discomfort. Among other illustrations of situations causing emotional discomfort, I take up Gestalt switch about sexual preferences, gender and gendering language, ambivalent stages or forms of sexual harassment, and tabooed bodily fluids and bodies. Self-focused emotional discomfort can also emerge: when one diagnoses one`s own envy, intense guilt or excessive pride and incorrigible love. How to distinguish between “emotional discomfort”, on the one hand, and embarrassment and shame felt about the others` and own breach of norms, on the other, in my own thinking still remains open.

About the speaker:

Prof Emeritus Helena Flam has gained her Fil Kand in Lund, Sweden and her PhD at Columbia University, USA. As a professor of sociology she taught at the University of Leipzig, between 1993 and 2017. As prof emeritus she is still its affiliate. Professor Flam pioneered European research in the Sociology of Emotions. Recently, she called for connecting research on social movements, professions and civil societies. In her most recent publication, she shows how to bring together the study of emotions and institutions.

Among her major texts and (co-)edited volumes are "The Emotional ‘Man’" in two consecutive issues of IS (1990), States and Anti-Nuclear Movements (1994), Mosaic of Fear (1998), Emotions and Social Movements (2005), Methods of Exploring Emotions (2015), "Civil Society and Professions" in Professions & Professionalism (2019) and the Research Handbook on the Sociology of Emotions (2024).

📅 Date: Friday, 24 April, 2026
🕑 Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
📍 Venue: CJT-9.29
🗣️ Speaker: Prof. Helena Flam
🔗 Website: https://sociology.hku.hk/events/c6bd8404-aea9-47f9-9ee1-7fdeffdd7d9e