External class factors Flashcards
What external factors impact on class and education?
Cultural deprivation
Material deprivation
Cultural capital
What are the main aspects of cultural deprivation?
Language
Parent’s education
Working class subculture
How does language contribute to cultural deprivation?
Hubbs-Tait: Educated parents were likely to get their children to use challenging language and evaluate their own abilities but working class parents use language that requires children to make small, descriptive comments Bernstein: Restricted and elaborated code
Who came up with restricted and elaborated code?
Bernstein
What is Bernstein’s restricted code?
Used by the working class using simple, context-bound sentences
What is Bernstein’s elaborated code?
Used by the middle class using complex sentences
Why are those that use the elaborated code at an advantage?
The elaborated code is used by teachers and school so middle class children are already fluent but it’s something that must be learnt by the working class
How does parental education contribute to cultural deprivation?
Douglas: The working class place less importance on education so give less encouragement Feinstein: Middle class children have an advantage due to parenting style, use of income and educational behaviour
In what ways are middle class children at an advantage according to Feinstein? (Parent’s education and cultural deprivation)
Parenting style: Middle class parents have consistant dicipline and encourage active learning but working class children 'do as they're told' so are less motivated Parent's educational behaviour: They know how to assist their child and can establish good relationships with teachers Use of income: Bernstein and Young found middle class mothers bought educational toys
How does parenting style offer an advantage to middle class children according to Feinstein?
Middle class parents have consistant dicipline and encourage active learning but working class children ‘do as they’re told’ so are less motivated
How does parent’s educational behaviour offer an advantage to middle class children according to Feinstein?
They know how to assist their child and can establish good relationships with teachers
How doesuse of income offer an advantage to middle class children according to Feinstein?
Bernstein and Young found middle class mothers bought educational toys
Which sociologist looked into how the working class subculture prevents children from acheiving?
Sugarman
What are the parts of the working class subculture that prevent children from achieving according to Sugarman?
Fatalism: There’s nothing you can do to change your status
Collectivism: Being part of a group is more important than suceeding
Immediate gratification: Less likely to make sacrifices to get future rewards
Present time orientation: Lack of long term goals
What points can be made about material deprivation?
Housing
Diet and health
Financial support
Fear of debt
How is housing affected by material deprivation?
Overcrowding means less room for educational activities and distractions which affect studying.
Lack of safe space for children to explore
Sharing a room can lead to disturbed sleep
How is diet and health affected by material deprivation?
Howard: Poor children get poor nutrition which affects the immune system and means they get more sick days and means they have less energy to concentrate
Wilkinson: Poor 10 year olds have higher rates of anxiety and hyperactivity
How is financial support affected by material deprivation?
Tanner: Many poor children have second hand items which leads to bullying
Smith and Noble: Poor children can’t afford private education or tutors. They are more likely to take on part-time work
How is fear of debt affected by material deprivation?
Working class people are more likely to see debt negatively
Students with a negatvie attitude were 5 times less likely to apply than others
Callender and Jackson: Debt was important in deciding what university to apply for.
Students are more likely to apply locally so they can live at home
Who came up with the idea of cultural capital?
Bourdieu
What is cultural capital?
The attitudes, values and language of the middle class. Middle class children have an advantage in schools
How can cultural capital be converted into educational capital?
Middle class children have an advantage as they are better able to express abstract ideas which means that they are more likely to gain qualifications
