Social Class and Education Flashcards

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How can you identify social class? (Select all that apply)

Their leisure activities (correct)

Their car ownership (correct)

Their social status (correct)

Their level of education (correct)

Their type of housing (correct)

How does occupation affect social class?

Occupation often forms a central part of individual identity and is linked to how people define themselves and are defined by others.

What are some social class differences?

Higher social classes have better housing, cars, food, holidays, incomes, and job security.

What is objective?

Objective is independent of people's thoughts and ideas, focusing on material differences in life chances. Signup and view all the answers

What is subjective?

Subjective refers to people's personal perception of their social class and class identity. Signup and view all the answers

What is a habitus?

A habitus is the cultural framework possessed by a social class, influencing tastes and choices. Signup and view all the answers

What did Bourdieu say about class habitus?

Bourdieu argued that each social class has its own cultural framework or 'habitus' that influences knowledge, language, and behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is cultural capital?

Cultural capital is the knowledge, education, language, attitudes, values, and lifestyle associated with the upper classes. Signup and view all the answers

What is meritocracy?

Meritocracy is a social system where success depends on talents, abilities, and effort. Signup and view all the answers

What do functionalists think about meritocracy?

Functionalists like Talcott Parsons believe meritocracy can lead to social inequality despite the principle of equal opportunity. Signup and view all the answers

What do Marxists think about meritocracy?

Marxists argue that Britain is not meritocratic due to the weak link between education levels and pay, reflecting systemic inequalities. Signup and view all the answers

What did Waldfogel and Washbrook say about children from disadvantaged backgrounds?

They found that children from disadvantaged backgrounds were often already educationally behind by age 3. Signup and view all the answers

How do lower-class children compare to middle-class children?

Lower-class children usually face more disadvantages in terms of resources and support. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social class can be identified through power, influence, education level, social status, housing type, car ownership, leisure activities, and lifestyle choices.

Occupation significantly influences individual identity and social identity; it's often the first trait recognized about a person.

Higher social classes enjoy better housing, food, vacations, incomes, and job security.
Wealth distribution in Britain:
- 10% of households own 44% of the wealth.
- 20% own approximately 63%.
- The bottom 50% hold only about 9%.
The top 20% of earners receive over seven times more than the bottom 20%.
Roughly 20% of the population lives in relative poverty.

Objective vs. Subjective Class

Objective measures focus on material differences in life chances, independent of personal perceptions.
Subjective measures refer to personal perceptions of class identity, influenced by attitudes, beliefs, values, and cultural choices.

Habitus

Habitus refers to the cultural framework and set of ideas cultivated within a social class, primarily through family socialization.

Bourdieu's Class Habitus

Bourdieu posits that each social class has its own habitus, which influences:
- Knowledge and language use.
- Manners and behavior.
- Cultural tastes and lifestyle choices.
The dominant class's view of taste often shapes societal standards, with 'cultural capital' being the familiarity with the dominant class habits.

Cultural Capital

Cultural capital is the collection of knowledge, language, skills, attitudes, and social networks predominantly held by upper and upper-middle classes.

Meritocracy

A meritocracy is a system where success is based on talent, abilities, and effort; in Britain, educational success is expected to correlate with future employment success.

Functionalist Perspective on Meritocracy

Functionalists like Talcott Parsons argue that meritocracy can create social inequality due to unequal opportunities in education based on class, gender, and ethnicity.

Marxist Perspective on Meritocracy

Marxists contend that evidence shows Britain is not truly meritocratic, as a weak correlation exists between education levels and pay, maintaining inequalities.

Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Research by Waldfogel and Washbrook indicates that children from disadvantaged backgrounds may be up to a year behind their more privileged peers academically by age three, before starting school.

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Explore the key concepts associated with social class and its relationship with education through these informative flashcards. Each card provides insights into how social class can be identified and the impact of occupation on individual identity.

Social Class and Education Flashcards

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