Michel Anteby | The Interplay of Occupational Stigma and Social Class: The Case of South Korean Hagwon Teachers

SCANCOR at the Weatherhead Seminar
Co-sponsored by the Harvard Korea Institute

Michel Anteby
Everett W. Lord Distinguished Faculty Scholar; Professor, Boston University Questrom School of Business

Chaired by David Pedulla, Director, SCANCOR at the Weatherhead Center; Faculty Associate (on leave 2025–2026). Professor, Department of Sociology, Harvard University; Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

Abstract:
Most occupational stigma research has looked at variations in stigmatization across occupations. Yet a few studies have also noted varying levels of perceived occupational stigma among members within a given occupation. To explore and explain this puzzle, we leverage observations, interviews, and archives with hagwon teachers or South Korean supplementary education workers. Despite this being a seemingly respected occupation, and despite almost all hagwon teachers holding prestigious educational credentials, we document a varying intra-occupational perception of stigma: some teachers viewed their work as highly stigmatized, whereas others much less so. Our analysis further reveals that differences in teachers’ social class backgrounds explained in part such variations. The norms and values permeating higher-class teachers’ close communities (particularly their families and schoolmates) heightened their perceptions of stigma. In contrast, lower-class members’ lesser embeddedness in peer or school communities buffered them from stigmatization. Moreover, it was those coming from higher-class backgrounds but not the most privileged who seemed to suffer most from this stigma. Our findings spotlight how social class shapes members’ perceived occupational stigma, the challenging position of relatively less privileged elites juggling competing value systems, and the potential protective effect of lower social class backgrounds in some occupational pursuits.

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