Class Differences Flashcards
How many more x likely is a child of high professionals going to achieve 5+ A*-C grades GCSE
2-3x
How many more times likely is a child of a high professional to go university
5x
What are the 2 main reasons for this
Internal factors
External factors
What can the external factors be split in to
Cultural
Material
What are the cultural factors influencing external class differences
Cultural deprivation theory Intellectual stimulation Language Parents education Working class subculture
What is the cultural deprivation theory
Different classes socialise their children different ways
Their norma transmitted via socialisation
W.C. Fail transmit appropriate norms
How does intellectual stimulation lead to class differences
W.C. Less likely give toys/activities stimulate thinking and reasoning skills.
Less likely read to them
Start school at a disadvantage
Who researches into language affecting class differences
Bernstein
How does language cause social class differences
W.C. Use a restricted code, M.C. Use an elaborative code
Elaborative code crucial as used by exams, teachers, universities
M.C. Have an advantage
What is a Restricted Language Code
Used by W.C
Less analytic, more descriptive
Limited vocab, use gestures
Particularistic - assumer listener shares particular meanings
What is an elaborative code
Used by M.C.
More analytic, wide vocab, complex
Universalistic - spell out meanings do not assume listener shares same understanding
Who researches into parental education as an external factor
Feinstein
How does parents education affect social class differences
Parenting style
Parents educational achievement
Language
Use of income
How does parenting style affect social class differences
M.C. Emphasise consistent discipline, high expectations, active learning.
W.C. Inconsistent discipline, poorer motivation, problems interacting with teachers
How does parents educational behaviours affect social class differences
M.C. More aware if what helps children progress
E.G. Form good relationships with teachers, see value trips
How does parents language affect educational achievement
Way parents communicate affects childs cognitive development
How does use of income affect social class differences
M.C. Spend income to promote childs development e.g. Educational toys
What are the 3 factors that cause working class subculture
Immediate gratification
Fatalism
Low value on education
How does Immediate gratification link with w.c. Subculture
Immediate gratification = wanting rewards now, rather than willing make sacrifices and work hard for future rewards
M.C. Practice Deferred Gratification
How does Fatalism link with w.c. Subculture
‘Whatever will be, will be’
W.C. Do not believe they can improve their position through individual efforts
How does Low value on education link with w.c. Subculture
Hyman - w.c. Do not value education as beneficial
Douglas: w.c. Parents show less interest childs education
Give less support e.g. Less likely attend parents evening
Evaluation of Cultural Deprivation Theory
Ignores material factors
Ignores internal factors
Blames the victim - w.c. May just have a different culture
2 ways material deprivation lead to social class differences
Poor diet - illness, absence, lack concentration (hungry)
Poor housing - overcrowding, cold/damp, nowhere to do homework
Homeless/temporary accommodation = frequent moves and changes
How do financial costs of education affect social class differences
W.C. Afford fewer educational opportunities e.g. Trips, tuition
Stigmatised/bullied not having right uniform
High education Callender and Jackson
W.c. More debt averse
Uni receive less financial support
What is cultural capital
Combines material and cultural factors
Marxist Bourdieu: m.c more successful posses more capital
Economic capital: wealth m.c.
Cultural capital: attitudes, values, skills
Educational capital: greater capital gives advantage educational capital - qualifications, get m.c jobs, reproducing advantages generation to generation
What internal factors affect class achievement
Labelling
Self fulfilling prophecy
Streaming
Pupil subculture
How does labelling cause class differences
Meanings/definitions make sense of someone
M.C. Labelled bright, motivated, cooperative
Becker: m.c. ‘Ideal pupils’
Underlies for many other issues
How does SFP cause class differences
Prophecy is a prediction, SFP becomes true because it has been made
Teachers create SFP through labels
What teachers believe, pupils achieve
Label m.c. Bright, more likely to succeed
w.c. Negatively more likely fail
Evaluation of SFP explanation
Too deterministic
Not all teachers view w.c. Negatively
How does streaming cause class differences
Institutionalised labelling All pupils same ability same stream
Bright =top stream Thick =bottom
Lacey: Differentiation ‘separating sheep from goats’ educating them differently, lead SFP
Douglas: IQ bottom stream falls over time, top stream increases
Lower = denied access same curriculum e.g. Not put forward higher exams
How does subculture cause class differences
Pro School Subculture - formed high streams, accept values, attend, respect, enjoy, participate, intend continue
Anti School Subculture - lower streams, reject values, invert them, dislike, flout, disrespect
Lead SFP pro school work hard become successful
How does Lacey support subcultures
School derives lower stream of a status by labelling them failures. Pupils create own status hierarchy to gain status from peers e.g. Breaking rules
Evaluation of internal factors
Ignores external factors
What does habitus mean
Habitus - social class way o thinking, lifestyle and expectations normal for ‘people like us’
Who researches in to Habitus
Archer
Influenced Bourdieus concept of habitus
Outline class identities and achievement
M.c. Have have power define their habitus superior, imposing it on education system
What is symbolic capital and symbolic violence in reference class identities
School commits symbolic violence devaluing w.c. Habitus judging clothing/accent/interests
Treat inferior denying symbolic capital (status and recognition)
Nike identities - violence leads pupils create alternative identities gaining capital through peers. Leads conflict m.c. Habitus
Succeed in school you ‘lose yourself’ being inauthentic to fit in.
Working class identity and educational success
Ingram = fitting in problem w.c grammar boys, tension neighbourhoods habitus and m.c. Schools
Self exclusion from success: Evans: even successful w.c. girls had hidden barriers e.g not fitting in at elite unis
Strong attachment family = remain home
Educational policies to consider
Marketisation - increased streaming Grants/Fees/Loans School Leaving Age/Compensatory Education Impact home background Material/Cultural deprivation
