Pupil identities and subcultures Flashcards
Subcultures definition
A subculture is a group of people within a culture that differentiates itself from the parent culture which it belongs.
Symbolic capital definition
The status, recognition and sense of worth that students receive from others
Symbolic violence
Using symbolic capital in a negative way, for example demonstrating superiority through values, beliefs and attitudes
Working class dilemma
The dilemma faced by w/c pupils to achieve symbolic capital from their friends or academic capital by rejecting their w/c identity
What are pro-school subculture characteristics?
Committed to school values
Gain approval/status through academic success
Involved in the wider life of school.
Types of pro-school subcultures (Ghalll)
The academic achievers
The New enterprisers
Anti-school subculture characteristics
Lower streams
Rejection of school values
Truanting
Disruption
Not doing hw
Lacey: Formation of pupil subcultures
Differentiation: Teachers categorizing students according to how they perceive ability, attitude and behavior (streaming is a form - categorizes pupils into different classes)
Polarization: Pupils respond to differentiation by moving towards one of two extremes - pro or anti subcultures
How schools shape pupil identities
Peer groups and symbolic capital
Symbolic violence (Archer)
School environments
Ethnocentric Curriculum (Ball)
Subject choice
Uniforms
Sub-cultures
Labelling
Symbolic Violence Archer
Schools impose forms of symbolic violence against students whose identies are shaped by designer clothing or hyper-heterosexual feminine behaviour which suggests to those students that education is not for them.
Ethnocentric Curriculum Ball
The current curriculum is very focused on m/c white British culture - this can turn both ethnic minorities and girls who feel excluded
Uniforms
Uniform reinforces gender roles as girls are expected to wear skirts and boys trousers.
Can also shape identity with schools demanding certain standards of dress.
Most schools don’t take ethnic minority dress into account (hijabs)
