Sociology of the family SOC 227

Description

For this discussion, please start with your two additional readings for this week (R2 and R3). Research demonstrates that it is possible to predict how well students do in school, on standardized tests as well as later in professional careers by looking at some characteristics of the community or family-level variables, rather than at quality of instruction or student-teacher ratio, etc. On a community level, variables such as median income, percentage of families living in poverty in the community or proportion of single-parent households all have an effect. On family level, family income and parent’s education levels are strong predictors of higher scores on standardized test like SATs, level of education and even future income levels. For this discussion, please revisit the concepts of ‘deficit thinking,’ ‘cultural capital,’ cultural reproduction,’ and ‘concerted cultivation’ from your readings, and discuss in what specific ways these concepts help us understand the role that family of origin plays in our educational and professional success. Can you offer specific examples that illustrate these concepts?