Class Identities Flashcards
How is a habitus formed
A groups habitus is formed as a response to its position in the class structure.
what does symbolic violence mean
Harm done by denying someones symbolic capital
What does symbolic capital mean
refers to status,recognition and sense of worth
What does Nike Identities mean and why do w/c pupils favour it
Its when w/c students give themselves a sense of worth by wearing branded clothes
What did Archer’s study show about class identity
Archer’s theories state that w/c have a different habitus and therefore w/c students try imitate the habitus of m/c students. M/C students have symbolic capital as it makes students feel at home as it is their ideal place to learn and schools promote m/c habitus. As a result w/c students feel left out an are a victim to symbolic violence.
According to Archer How do w/c students try to gain symbolic capital and experience less symbolic violence?
W/C class boys try to gain symbolic capital and experience less symbolic violence by Nike identities however girls try to gain symbolic capital and experience less symbolic violence by using the hyper heterosexual feminine style( e.g. too much make up)
What are the downsides of nike identities and hyper heterosexual feminine style?
Social suicide- killing of social life by dressing or acting in a way that makes people reject you. AN example is doing your hairstyle wrong or fake products.
Ingram’s study on class identity
Studied 2 groups of W/C boys in Belfast from deprived areas where one group passed 11 plus exam and the other failed.
What did Ingram’s research show
The boys who passed 11 plus exam were put into a M/C habitus while the boys who failed were put into a W/C habitus. Students who went to a school with a w/c habitus felt at home however the other group who passed felt the need to fit in as their school promoted m/c habitus. One of the boys in grammar school came in tracksuits for mufti day and he got made fun of. (symbolic violence)
Evan’s study on class identity
studied a group of 21 W/C girls from south London comprehensive who were studying for their a levels.
what did Evan’s research show
W/C pupils are reluctant to apply for elite universities as they think that they don’t fit into the preferred habitus at elite unis. this leads to w/c pupils to exclude themselves from top universities even though they are capable of joining them.
Also Archer and Ingram found that the girls had a strong attachment to their locality, e.g. only 4 had plans to move away from the area.
