Young children’s social class identities in everyday life at primary school: The importance of naming and challenging complex inequalities.

This article explores young children’s social class identities in the context of a Scottish primary school, highlighting the ambivalent institutional discourses around ‘diversity’ and social class in the school context. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with 5- to 7-year-olds, it shows the emotional...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Childhood Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 381 - 396
Autor principal: Kustatscher, Marlies
Formato: research Journal Article
Publicado: Sage Publications Inc. Aug2017
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:This article explores young children’s social class identities in the context of a Scottish primary school, highlighting the ambivalent institutional discourses around ‘diversity’ and social class in the school context. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with 5- to 7-year-olds, it shows the emotional and embodied aspects through which social class differences are performed in the children’s intra- and intergenerational interactions, and the implications for the children’s relationships and experiences in school. The study shows that practitioners need to name and address social class differences, in intersection with gender, race and ethnicity, and involve young children themselves in discussions about identities and inequalities.