Unit 3 - Section B: Differential Achievement - Social Class - THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS - Outside: Marxists

Question 1

Bourdieu

Answer 1

Education system is systematically biased toward culture of dominant social classes (MC + UC), devaluing norms, values and knowledge of WC. Cultural deprivation theory - deprivation suggests there is something lacking about culture of WC, but cultural capital doesn’t. Marxist explanation of cultural capital looks at how inequalities are reproduced, but also norms and values of individuals. Impact of economic and cultural capital, as link together. MC children have more cultural capital - collected info from surveys to analyse members of different occupational groups. WC cultural attributes are rejected as education system is defined by and for MC who succeed by default, rather than greater ability. Cultural assets seen as worthy of investment and rewards, have greater value as cultural capital.

Question 2

Gerwitz

Answer 2

Competition between schools benefits MC, who can get children into desirable schools. Differences in economic and cultural capital lead to class differences in how far parents can exercise choice of secondary school. Professional MC parents tend to be privileged skilled choosers, who understand how schools admissions procedures work, can use this knowledge to access best schools. MC parents have more economic capital meaning can move house into areas with better schools (‘catchment areas’).