Parental Cultural and Social Capital at Child’s Occupational Launch: Informal Advantage in ‘Meritocratic’ Systems

• In Event: 523 - Section on Sociology of Education Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 02. STEM Education

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of parental occupation in the career launch trajectory of the child. Theoretically it draws on studies of cultural reproduction of inequality and focuses on STEM education. In STEM education, gender and race are studied most frequently. This is related to persistent disparities of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields despite STEM's reputation as 'meritocratic.' Using the case of engineering, however, this analysis focuses on social class and the transfer of social and cultural capital (subtle forms of social advantage) and how they operate in job search and career launch.

Author

• Alexandra Vinson, Northwestern University