Identity, Class And Girls Achievement

Question 1

What are the big social class differences between girls?

Answer 1

Working class girls from poorer families much less likely to be successful then middle class girls from wealthy families

Question 2

Symbolic capital

Answer 2

Status/popularity

Question 3

What does Louise archer argue about feminine identities?

Answer 3

There is a conflict between working class girls feminine identities and the values and ethos of school

Question 4

What’s the result of girls performing their w/c feminine identities?

Answer 4

Brings them into conflict with school, preventing them from gaining good qualifications and well paid jobs.

Question 5

Hyper hetero sexual feminine identities

Answer 5

Many girls spend time effort and money in constructing desirable and glamorous HHSFI. E.g. excessive makeup + jewellery. Brings symbolic capital with peers but causes conflict with school

Question 6

Traits of feminine identities

Answer 6

Boyfriends, being loud, preoccupation with appearance

Question 7

Working class girls dilemma

Answer 7

Gain symbolic capital(conforming to feminine identity) or gain educational capital(rejecting w/c identity and conforming to schools m/c notion of the ideal female pupil)