The Gates of Nerddom: Academics, Cultural Capital, and Elite Status Formation in Chinese High Schools

• In Event: 523 - Section on Sociology of Education Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 10. School Context and Characteristics: Session I

Abstract

Studies that examine elite formation through education show that elite students use cultural capital to establish hierarchies in school. However, the value of cultural capital varies across “fields,” or educational systems, and many systems reward academics over cultural capital. Yet, the role of academics in adolescent elite status formation has not been given sufficient attention. This study draws on data from participant observation and interviews with students, parents, and teachers in six top-performing Chinese high schools. I examine the case of China because of the country’s standardized examination system, which prioritizes academics over other student characteristics. I find that in such a system, elite students primarily use academics to establish status hierarchies, while cultural capital is of secondary importance. Academic performances shape student interactions, and elite students justify the hierarchies by arguing that status reflects innate ability. Given that they will likely become the future socioeconomic elites, top-performing elite students’ justification of status distinction carries implications for social inequality. To the extent that China is a rising global power, the findings carry implications for social stratification beyond the Chinese context.

Author

• Yi-Lin Chiang, University of Pennsylvania