Structure and Agency in Adolescents' Educational Transitions: Capability to Aspire for Pursuing Postsecondary Education

• In Event: 32.082 - Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: 32.082-21 - How Social Contexts Constrain and Promote Educational Opportunities

Abstract

Existing research largely built on Pierre Bourdieu’s social reproduction theory to explain the structural constraints for inequality access to higher education. Much less has applied Amartya Sen’s capability approach, addressing the agency of “capability to aspire” for differential post-secondary education transitions. The data are from the PISA 2012 and the longitudinal study of adolescents in Hong Kong, consisted of 2741 senior year secondary students from 123 schools. Results show that the reproduction effects are still in effect to transmission of cultural and social capital, leading to shape post-secondary education transitions. Yet, adolescents’ likelihood of expecting to pursue a bachelor degree are increased through strengthening their own capabilities after taking into account of socioeconomic backgrounds.

Authors

• Esther Sui-Chu Ho, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Chrysa Pui Chi Keung, Chinese University of Hong Kong