2.2.4 - Social Class: Difference in Achievement

Studies on Difference in Achievement: Bourdieu

⇒ Bourdieu (1971, 1974) argues that cultural inferiority isn’t the reason why the working classes perform less well in education.

Role: cultural reproduction

• ⇒ He develops a Marxist approach and locates educational inequalities within a capitalist society. He argues thatthe role of the education system is cultural reproduction.

• The education system reproduces the culture of the dominant or ruling capitalist class. ⇒ He argues that education is biased in favour of the middle classes as they share similar norms and values to these higher social groups.

Cultural capital

• ⇒ Bourdieu argues that by having knowledge and experience of the dominant culture, upper- and middle-class children possess what he calls ‘cultural capital’ or a cultural advantage.

• Examples of cultural capital include certain language norms; cultural activities such as visiting the museum and reading literature.

• Middle-class children share aspects of high culture, whereas working class children don’t always have access to such cultural practices and knowledge. As such, they are disadvantaged in the education system.

Designed to maintain inequalities

• ⇒ Bourdieu argues that the education system is designed to maintain class inequalities rather than provide equal opportunities for all.

What is Cultural Capital?

⇒ Bourdieu argues that by having knowledge and experience of the dominant culture, upper- and middle-class children possess what he calls ‘cultural capital’ or a cultural advantage. Examples of cultural capital include:

• Going to the opera

• Going to the ballet
  Reading literature

• Visiting museums

What do upper- and middle-class children possess, advantaging them in the education system, according to Bourdieu?

Cultural capital

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