Social Class Differences - External Factors - Cultural Capital

Question 1

How does Bourdieu categorise cultural capital?

Answer 1

Bourdieu categories cultural capital into three sections: cultural capital, educational capital and economic capital. - Middle class students tend to possess all three types of capital.
He argues that both cultural and material factors contribute to educational achievement and are related to each other.

Question 2

What is cultural capital?

Answer 2

Cultural capital refers to the knowledge, attitudes, values, language, tastes and abilities of the middle class. Because of this middle class students are at an advantage, whereas, working class students see at a disadvantage.
-Middle class students are more likely to develop intellectual interests and an understanding of the what the education system requires for success.
- Middle class abilities and interests are highly valued and are rewarded with qualifications (this is because the education system favours middle class culture.

However, working class children find that school devalues their culture as ‘rough’ and inferior. Their lack of cultural capital leads to exam failure.
Many working class pupils also ‘get the message’ that education is not meant for them and respond by not attending/leaving/not trying at school.

Question 3

What is educational capital?

Answer 3

Educational capital refers to the parent’s education background and qualifications.
- Middle class parent’s are more likely to have a high educational capital which they are able to give to their children - giving them am advantage.

Question 4

What is economic capital?

Answer 4

Economic capital refers to the income paren’t receive.
- Middle class parents are more likely to have a high economic capital which they are able to use to give their children an advantage.
- Eg, by moving house to a catchment area closer to a higher school, tutoring, revision books, private schools etc.

Question 5

What does Leech and Campos’ say about educational and economic capital?

Answer 5

Leech and Campos’ (2003) carried out a study in Coventry. They found that middle class parents are more likely to be able to afford a house in the catchment area of a school that is highly placed in the exam league tables.
- This is known as ‘selection by mortgage’ as it drives up the cost of houses near to successful schools and excluded working class families.

Question 6

What did Sullivan say about cultural capital?

Answer 6

Sullivan (2001) used questionnaires to conduct a survey of 465 pupils in 4 schools. She assed their cultural capital, she asked them about a range of activities, eg, reading and TV habits and whether they visited art galleries, museums and theatres. She also tested their vocabulary and knowledge of cultural figures.

• She found that those who read complex fiction and watched serious TV documentaries developed a wider vocabulary and greater cultural knowledge, they had greater cultural capital. - These students were children of graduates and they were more likely to be successful at GCSE. - they were more likely to be middle class.
• she also found that some pupils of different classes had the same level of cultural capital, but middle class pupils still did better.
• she concluded that the greater recourses and aspirations of middle class families explain the remainder of the class gap in achievement.