Effects of Routine Activities and Social Exclusion on Victimization among Chinese Migrant Workers

• In Event: Tests of Theories in Chinese Situations

Abstract

Using the 2012 China Labor Dynamics Survey (CLDS), this study aims to: (1) examine the victimization patterns of Chinese migrant workers and, (2) test to what extent the migrant workers’ victimization can be explained by social exclusion and routine activities. Informed by both criminological research and migration/immigration studies, we adopt an integrative theoretical framework: social exclusion experienced by migrant workers may increase their risky routine activities and consequently lead to higher likelihood of victimization. The hypotheses are thoroughly analyzed through regressions since the CLDS data set contains details on social exclusion, routine activities, victimization, and sociodemographic information of the respondents and their families. The preliminary results have shown support to the framework. This research can contribute to the rising policy need to understand the vulnerability of migrant workers, one of the most disadvantaged social groups in contemporary China. It also has great potential for theoretical development by bridging and testing relevant Western theories in both criminology and migration/immigration fields with the most updated national representative data from China.

Authors

• Hua (Sara) Zhong, Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Hong Meng, Chinese University of Hong Kong