Bouedieu

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  • Created by: syeda
  • Created on: 30-03-13 15:17
Pierre Bourdieu argues that both cultural & material factors contribute to educational achievement and are not separate but interrelated. He uses the concept of 'capital' to explain why the middle class are more successful
Cultural Capital
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Bourdieu sees middle class culture as a type pf capital because, like wealth, it gives an advantage to those who posses it. He also argues that through their socialisation, middle class children acquire the ability to grasp, analyse & express ideas.
They are more likely to develop intellectual interests and an understanding of what the education system requires for success
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This gives middle class children an advantage in school, where such abilities & interests are highly valued and rewarded with qualification. This is because the education system is not neutral, but favours&transmits the dominant middle-class culture
By contrast, working class children find that school devalues their culture as 'rough' and inferior. Their lack of cultural capital leads to exam failure
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Educational & economic capital - argues that educational, economic and cultural capital can be converted into one another. ie middleclass children with cultural capital are better equipped to meet the demands of the school curriculum & qualify
Gewirtz: marketisation and parental choice - Sharon Gewirtz study of class differences in parental choice of secondary school. Her study of 14 london schools is based om interviews with teachers & parents, and on secondary data such as school docs.
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Gewirtz found that differences in economic & cultural capital lead to class differences in how far parents can exercise choice of secondary school. She identifies 3 main types of parents:
1. Privileged skilled choosers - mainly professional middle class parents who used their economic & cultural capital to gain educational capital for their children. These parents possessed cultural capital
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2. Disconnected local choosers - Working class parents whose choices were restricted by their lack of economic and cultural capital. They found it difficult to understand school admissions procedures and were less confident, less aware of choices
3. Semi skilled choosers - mainly working class however were ambitious for their children. Lacked cultural capital and found it hard to make sense of the education market, often relying on other peoples opinions about school
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CLASS DIFFERENCES IN ACHIEVEMENT - INTERNAL FACTORS
CLASS DIFFERENCES IN ACHIEVEMENT - EXTERNAL FACTORS
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Card 2

Front

They are more likely to develop intellectual interests and an understanding of what the education system requires for success

Back

Bourdieu sees middle class culture as a type pf capital because, like wealth, it gives an advantage to those who posses it. He also argues that through their socialisation, middle class children acquire the ability to grasp, analyse & express ideas.

Card 3

Front

By contrast, working class children find that school devalues their culture as 'rough' and inferior. Their lack of cultural capital leads to exam failure

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Gewirtz: marketisation and parental choice - Sharon Gewirtz study of class differences in parental choice of secondary school. Her study of 14 london schools is based om interviews with teachers & parents, and on secondary data such as school docs.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

1. Privileged skilled choosers - mainly professional middle class parents who used their economic & cultural capital to gain educational capital for their children. These parents possessed cultural capital

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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