This article draws insights from social resource theory and class habitus theory to study friendship choices in urban China. Data are from two surveys conducted in two Chinese cities in 2000 and 2001 respectively. Data analysis shows that cross-status friendships are negatively related to both cadre status and professional status in urban China. However, in-group association is more closely related to instrumentality than to cultural distinction. These findings suggest new interpretations of the effect of social resources and cultural distinction on friendship formation in urban China.
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