2.2.4
Social Class: Difference in Achievement
Studies on Difference in Achievement: Bourdieu
Studies on Difference in Achievement: Bourdieu
Bourdieu (1971, 1974) argues that cultural inferiority is not the reason why the working classes perform less well in education.
Role: cultural reproduction
Role: cultural reproduction
- He develops a Marxist approach and locates educational inequalities within a capitalist society. As such, he argues that the role of the education system is cultural reproduction.
- That is, the education system reproduces the culture of the dominant or ruling capitalist class. He argues that education is biased in favour of the middle classes as they share similar norms and values to these higher social groups.
Cultural capital
Cultural capital
- Bourdieu argues that by having knowledge and experience of the dominant culture, upper- and middle-class children possess what he calls ‘cultural capital’ or a cultural advantage.
- Examples of cultural capital include certain language norms; cultural activities such as visiting the museum and reading literature.
- That is, middle-class children are more likely to share aspects of high culture, whereas working class children do not always have access to such cultural practices and knowledge. As such, they are disadvantaged in the education system.
Designed to maintain inequalities
Designed to maintain inequalities
- Bourdieu goes further and argues that the education system is designed to maintain class inequalities rather than provide equal opportunities for all.
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
Jump to other topics
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
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