External factors (ethnicity)

Question 1

How does cultural deprivation relate to differences in ethnic achievement?

(-) ignores positive effects of ethnic minority cultures on educational achievement e.g lone mother’s in charge gives black girls a positive female role model which encourages strength and independence which could lead to educational success

Answer 1

• immigrant families may have language barriers e.g cannot communicate with teachers and ask for help
• language spoken by low-income black families is inadequate for educational success - can’t express ideas clearly
• black children are socialised to have a fatalistic perspective, no encouragement
• black families have a lone mother in charge. due to absence of dad she struggles financially = less time to support + help with school

Question 2

How does material derivation relate to ethnic differences in educational achievement?

(-) not all ethnic minorities undergo material deprivation, asian groups are less likely to experience material derivation

Answer 2

• Palmer - more ethnic minority children live in low income or unemployed households compared to white children
• language barriers mentioned in cultural deprivation may mean employers don’t hire ethnic minority workers as often as white British
• lack of money = lack of resources like equipment, big enough houses for efficient quiet revision, etc

Question 3

How does racism in a wider society relate to ethnic differences in educational achievement?

Answer 3

• Mason - maternal deprivation and ethnic poverty may actually be at fault of racism itself due to discrimination and social exclusion