Inequalities in consumption are usually understood as inequalities in ownership of material resources. This paper，however，examines inequalities in consumption from the dimension of “consumer culture”，that is，unequal status in consumer culture of different socio-economic groups. It emphasizes that the unequal statuses have been socially constructed，with the consequences of increasing social inequalities and social exclusion.The data comes from a survey on drama appreciation and consumption of mobile phones among students from 12 universities in China. Empirical analysis，from the dimensions of cultural taste，material culture and consumer orientation，rejected some hypotheses/stereotypes upon unequal statuses in consumer culture，which are usually associated with institutional factors of family origins and education level. It is found that（1）there is no significant correlation between preference of Korean dramas and education level；（2）there are no significant differences in the extent of material aspiration among university students from different family backgrounds nor between urban and rural origins，and students from better-off origins are more dependent on material goods；（3）compared with those from less well-off origins，students from better-off origins are generally more enthusiastic about “face” consumption. Policy-makers should reflect upon the mechanisms of how unequal statuses in consumer culture are constructed，in order to promote social justice and social integration.