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Comedian Russell Kane discusses working class mobility and the UK education system

alexandradove — 2014-01-27 18:17:00 UTC

Russell Kane, a British comedian from working class roots, tells BBC One's 'This Week' of the inequalities working class children still face in society, and emphasises the importance of the education system in creating equal opportunities and allowing for social mobility. Though this may be true, as we discussed in Week 1's lecture there are still advantages that middle/upper class children have in terms of social/cultural capital which make educational success much easier for them.

Channel 4's 'Benefits Street' sparks political debate

alexandradove — 2014-01-27 21:44:23 UTC

Class, a previously unexplored/disregarded form of social stratification, has been politically reignited by a Channel 4 documentary showing the life of the "ghettoised" poor and unemployed. It has suddenly brought the issue of the 'chav' benefit culture (which has existed as a stereotype for many years) into the limelight; initiating discussion in the Houses of Parliament and also the public sphere.

Owen Jones argues with Channel 4's editor over Benefit's Street

alexandradove — 2014-02-17 21:53:28 UTC

Owen Jones calls Channel 4's Benefit's Street "a medieval stocks updated for a modern format"; reiterating the point made in his book 'Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class' that we discussed in Week 4's seminar.

Educating Yorkshire - http://www.channel4.com/programmes/educating-yorkshire

alexandradove — 2014-02-17 22:01:38 UTC

Educating Yorkshire depicts predominantly working class life in a Northern public school and gives insight into how the education system inherently conflicts with working class values.

Daily Telegraph - Working class children must learn to be middle class to get on in life, government advisor says

alexandradove — 2014-03-03 11:13:32 UTC

Linking to the previous post on Educating Yorkshire, this news article highlights the middle class values and traits that are recognised as superior in the education system.

Gossip Girl - TV show

alexandradove — 2014-03-25 13:27:01 UTC

Gossip Girl centers around a working class family who move to an upper class neighbourhood, there are clear elements of the clash of economic/cultural/social capital that Bourdieu discusses.