Women Without Class - Flashcards

Study Notes

Symbolic Boundaries of Class

The chapter examines how girls at a specific high school express class identity through behaviors like clothing choices and academic participation.
Class performances can reflect and reinforce social status within capitalist societies, using commodities as tools for self-expression and status delineation.

Intersection of Class, Race, and Gender

Class is perceived not only through income or work but is intertwined with family ties, social relationships, and consumption habits.
Informal peer hierarchies help students navigate class and racial/ethnic dynamics, revealing how cliques are shaped by these identities.
College prep classes are predominantly white, while vocational tracks often include Mexican American girls, highlighting racial and gender disparities in academic settings.

Understanding Subcultures

Subcultures are defined by shared aesthetics and styles, formed in response to inequalities and serve both as resistance and reproduction of these inequalities.
Cultural capital differences lead to distinctive dress and speech among class subjects, challenging middle-class norms.

Cultural Resistance

Resistance manifests in the formation of subcultures as individuals reject inclusion in prevailing systems.
In cultural contexts, resistance can signify personal authenticity, although it may not always translate into effective political movements.

Subcultures and Societal Resistance

Subcultures stem from various systemic inequalities and represent ongoing relational networks sharing marginalization experiences.
They simultaneously resist mainstream norms while also reflecting existing social stratifications.

Consumer Culture as Resistance

The rapid circulation of products in capitalist markets affects social group dynamics and status perceptions.
Brands like Champion illustrate how consumer culture can signify resistance; its evolution from urban wear to mainstream status underscores this struggle.

Critique of Bourdieu's Cultural Capital

Bettie contends that Bourdieu overly focuses on cultural capital in defining class identity, asserting that familial influence plays a crucial role in shaping class experiences.
She emphasizes the importance of recognizing how cultural politics intertwine with race and gender to examine class reproduction and resistance.

Class Performance and Identity

Class performance refers to the conscious efforts individuals make to navigate and present their perceived class identities.
This concept highlights that class subjects are influenced by social structures and may unconsciously reveal their cultural capital through behavior.

Concept of Class Passing

Class passing occurs when individuals adopt identities not inherent to their background, often negotiating between inherited and adapted personas.
For example, some students may modify their speech or behaviors to align with a perceived public identity different from their home life, illustrating the fluidity of class identity.

Description

This quiz explores themes from Julie Bettie's 'Women Without Class', focusing on the symbolic boundaries of class as depicted in high school experiences. It examines how girls navigate class performances through their behaviors and interactions. Dive into the intricate relationship between gender, race, and identity in this insightful chapter.