External factors influencing social class differences in education Flashcards
Material deprivation
A lack of resources and a lack of ability to purchase goods and services compared to other members of society.
Sugerman on cultural deprivation
- People in the working class are oriented towards the present time. As a result, they are unlikely to sacrifice immediate income for education.
Smith and Noble -material deprivisation
Smith and Noble list the ‘barriers to learning’ that can result from low income.
.Low income, meaning a lack of educational books, trips, computer/internet access, or inability to afford private tutoring.
.Poor housing such as overcrowded or cramped homes, meaning children do not have somewhere quiet to study.
.Poor diet which can lead poor health, illnesses and absences from school, and lack of concentration in class due to hunger.
Cultural deprivation
Being deprived off cultural attitudes necessary for educational success. E.g working class lacking attitudes and values needed for success. Also knowledge because they have not benefited from the same informal education from there parents.
They may lack the ability to speak, read, write and think in ways which help them in education because of the way they have been brought up.
Feinstein
Found that cultural deprivation was much more important in shaping educational achievement than financial deprivation (having poorer parents).
Feinstein found that supportive parents have a much greater effect than financial deprivation on children’s educational achievement.
Bernstien
Believes a particular aspect of culture is speech and it shapes educational achievement.
Restricted code: Use short, simple and often unfinished sentences. Meanings are not made fully explicit. More used by WC to communicate.
Elaborated code: Longer more complex sentences. meanings are made explicit. More likely to be used by MC.
Evans
Found that working class parents placed a high value on education and did encourage there children to do well. She found no difference in education among mothers in different social classes.
Cultural capital
The possession of cultural characteristics that can give you an advantage in life. Cultural characteristics such as accent, way you walk etc. These can all help you fit in with elite positions that can get you into top universities.
Bourdieu on cultural capital
Believes that the possession or lack of possession of different types of capital shapes opportunity in society.
