Gender - Identity, Class & Girls Achievement

Question 1

Symbolic capital

Answer 1

Archer- conflict between W/C feminine identities & the values/ethos of the school.
Symbolic capital=status, recognition and sense of worth that we are able to obtain from others
Archer found gaining symbolic capital prevents from gaining educational capital and economic capital.

Question 2

Hyper-heterosexual feminine identities

Answer 2

• Many girls invest into hyper-heterosexual feminine identities in order to bring status from peers
• Brings conflict with school as teachers see girls preoccupation with appearance as distraction preventing learning
• > Creates symbolic violence which is defining a certain culture as worthless or tasteless.

Question 3

Boyfriends

Answer 3

• Boyfriends bring symbolic capital -> boyfriends get in the way of school work and lowered girl aspirations.
• Girls aspired to settle down and maintain working class feminine identities

Question 4

Being ‘’loud”

Answer 4

• WC Girls adopt loud feminine identities -often led them to be outspoken, independent & assertive -> questioning teacher authority
• failing to conform to school stereotypes of ideal pupils -> conflicting with teachers who saw behaviour as aggressive rather than assertive

Question 5

Working class girls dilemma

Answer 5

• Dilemma; - either gaining symbolic capital from peees to conform to hyper-heterosexual identity OR gaining educational capital by rejecting WC identity and conform to MC notions of a pupil.
• Archer argues WC feminine identities and educational success conflict with one another as their identities cause underachievement.

Question 6

Successful working class girls

Answer 6

Skeggs-girls motivation reflects WC feminine identities. They wished to remain home & contribute to their families.
Archer - Girls showed a strong preference for the local & familiar over the distant even if they are quite successful.
Self exclusion from elite universities far away and limits success.