External Factors: Cultural Capital Flashcards
Overview
Bourdieu (1984) argues that both cultural & material factors contribute to educational achievement & are not separate but interrelated. He uses the term cultural capital to refer to the knowledge, attitudes, values, language, tastes & abilities of the middle class that help them succeed in the education system. The middle class use this cultural capital, alongside their economic capital (money), social capital (social contacts) & symbolic capital (respectable status) to ‘buy’ educational capital (qualifications)
Differences
Bourdieu sees middle class culture as ‘capital’ because it can be translated into wealth & power, & gives an advantage This is because the culture, knowledge & language of the school fit more closely to m/c culture; therefore, m/c students have an in-built advantage.
On the other hand, the children of working-class parents experience a cultural deficit. They soon realise that the school & teachers attach little importance to their experiences & values. As such they may lack the cultural capital necessary for educational success. Similarly, Gerwitz found that differences in economic & cultural capital lead to class differences in how far parents can exercise choice of secondary school
Economic Capital
Ownership of wealth
Owning valuable houses, shares, having an income
Paying for private education or additional tuition & educational resources
Cultural Capital
Having the educational
qualifications, lifestyles &
knowledge of arts & literature that are valued in society
Having a degree-level qualification or higher, enjoying educational holidays, having a
knowledge of classical art & literature
Parents have knowledge & experience to help their children in education. They can provide an educationally stimulating home environment, so children become familiar with knowledge that is valued in school
Social Capital
Possession of valuable social
contacts
Knowing teachers, head teachers, professors
Parents may know how to gain admission to the best educational institutions or to find expert help
Symbolic Capital
Possession of status
Being seen as
respectable by the
community
Could help with admission to private or selective schools
A03
Alice Sullivan’s (2001) research supports Bourdieu’s ideas
found that pupils with the greatest cultural capital were children of graduates & that these pupils were more likely to be successful at GCSE