Leveraging Social Capital for Social Mobility: A Scoping Review of Racialized People’s Strivings

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 3:35 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Language, Social Capital, and Power in Education (Table 1)

Abstract

This scoping review analyzed 66 articles on how individuals from racialized backgrounds use social capital for social mobility. Most studies (85.3%) were from the USA, focusing significantly on Black Americans. Methodologies included 50% quantitative, 39.7% qualitative, and 10.3% mixed methods. The studies (1995-2024) showed that racialized people's social capital is influenced by homophily and segregation, resulting in smaller, tightly knit social circles and limited broader network access. Black individuals rely on strong cultural and community ties for education and career support, using bonding social capital more than bridging. However, homophily and segregation hinder economic self-sufficiency and mobility. Racialized individuals face challenges leveraging social capital for employment and encounter devaluation within institutions. Policy and practice implications are discussed.

Authors

• Carl E. James, York University

• David Baidoo-Anu, Conestoga College

• Anika Forde, York University

• Kathleen Sandy-Thompson, York University