In other words, every component of social life is gradually separated into specialized parts in time and space. For example, family power is increasingly given to society, especially the upbringing and education of children.
There are special trusts and schools. School Education Various specialized schools have been established according to the requirements of a divided society.
Schools will send different individuals to a certain position in society after screening. Sociology of education is concerned with how people in different positions are inserted through education and feel at ease in this position.
This is related to the relationship between education and social stratification and social mobility. Nowadays, education has become the most important factor of social mobility and social stratification.
First, look at the social reality of China from the perspective of social stratification.
The study of social stratification is mainly attributed to the work of sociologists who pay attention to the power and structure in society. They use the layered theory to explain and describe those substantial phenomena.
Such as class, interest groups, status, racial inequality, ethnic inequality and gender inequality. (Note 1)
All kinds of fundamental propositions about social stratification focus on the transition from feudal inequality system to capitalist inequality system. In his early research, Marx once thought that,
Because the relationship of production in capitalist society is one of exploitation and exploitation, society gradually divides into two classes.
Namely, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Then came the new Marxist educator, who demonstrated the relationship between education and class. In the eyes of new Marxists,
Educational institutions are tools of bourgeois political, economic and cultural reproduction.
It maintains the present class situation from the root. Weber, another sociologist, also distinguished four classes of capitalist society, which are: (1).
The working class as a whole-the more it becomes a whole, the more it tends to be automated; (2) the petty bourgeoisie; (3)
Intellectuals and professionals who lack property (technicians, white-collar workers, civil servants, etc.). ); (4)
A class that gains an advantage through property and education. (Note 2) Weber's analysis focused people's attention on the "middle class". In America, the middle class is increasingly becoming the majority.
This is also the middle class advertised by the United States as a guarantee for the society to move towards democracy and prosperity. Judging from the social and economic development history of the United States, apart from family factors, the "middle class" mostly relies on successful school education.
Because the value of American school education is similar to that of the middle class, higher education institutions seem to be the place where the "middle class" comes into being.
Why should the middle class control education and make it a place for them to multiply? Randall Collins, a neo-Weber.
Inheriting Weber's tradition, this paper focuses on how education makes some people become middle class. He thinks that education is also like an arena. At first,
In order to achieve or consolidate their high status class, all groups compete for and control education, making education a tool to achieve their goals. In this way,
Contemporary education system has become a way for most people to promote their goals, mainly in social mobility. Education has been regarded by most people in contemporary society as a tool to improve their economic status, gain status and prestige. In his book diploma society (
After the Credential Society, he quoted Weber's point of view to analyze the contemporary social education system and pointed out that,
Education is being used to "limit the scarce resources of candidates who compete for social and economic advantages",
And sell these favorable social status to "academic certificate holders" (Note 3) When there are more and more people holding these academic certificates in society,
Their resources and influence make the high-status class and the poor class a minority, and can affect the resources and policies of school education, which is one of the reasons why education has become a reproduction place for the middle class.
This situation exists in many countries in western Europe, and higher education has always been the best way to "have a high social status". In China,
Going to college seems to be more and more a prerequisite for employment, and "highly educated" is linked to "good position (high income)". In underdeveloped society, education, as a cost input,
It has become one of the heaviest "burdens" for every family. From primary school to university, if it goes well, the education cost of a child will basically account for more than half of the total family income.
Even more. Families in poor areas generally can't afford their children to go to college, so children can only engage in low-level labor and get very low labor remuneration.
Great changes have taken place in social stratification in China since the reform and opening up.
The so-called "three major differences" in the past have been replaced by more and greater differences. Just from the perspective of income,
Now society can be roughly divided into high-income groups, low-income groups and groups in need of relief. According to a survey by relevant people, the unemployment problem in China has not been solved recently under the background of globalization.
And the income gap between residents will gradually widen. In addition, the polarization between the rich and the poor has become quite obvious. According to the internal situation of urban residents, 1999 is determined by the National Bureau of Statistics, etc.
A survey of urban life conducted jointly by ministries shows that 20% of high-income families account for 42.4% of the total income, while 20% of low-income families only account for 6.5%.
%。 The wealth possession of different families is even more disparity. Wealthy families account for 8.74% of the total number of families surveyed and have 60% of financial assets. The lowest income 20
% of households only own 1.5% of all financial assets. A survey report provided by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that in rural areas, by the end of 1998, it had accounted for 20% of the population.
% of high-income farmers have bank deposits, accounting for 55% of the total deposits of all sample farmers, and accounting for 14.6% of the rural population, and the annual per capita income is 1000.
For farmers with less than RMB, the total deposit is less than 3%. Among high-income people, many people have private wealth exceeding 10 million yuan or even higher. At the same time, the poor class is also obviously divided.
At present, there are at least tens of millions of people in rural areas who have not solved the problem of food and clothing and become "groups in need of relief". (Note 4)
So why is there no middle class in China? In fact, the proportion of people living in the middle class only by income is very low.
Not enough to form a class. China vigorously develops higher education in order to promote the rapid rise of the social middle class. however
The development of higher education is restricted by many factors of social stratification. For example, in the late 1970s and early 1980s,
A large number of self-employed people have emerged in China. Most of them are engaged in business and service industries, and make use of good policies and development opportunities to get rich quickly. Many of them have no education,
And despise the uselessness of school education to the economy. Their behavior and effect had a great demonstration effect on the society at that time.
So that in the field of education, another wave of "reading is useless" has been set off. It was not until the mid-1990s that some rapidly exploding commercial capital owners began to get into trouble.
Some people call them "self-employed people who don't grow up." This is because the social form is more and more inclined to knowledge economy, and the role of education has been valued and re-evaluated. Judging from the current trend,
The development of higher education is conducive to the formation of the "middle class" in society, and the floating capital of society has begun to change from society to culture. But,
Why didn't a real middle class form in this decade?
Although many people regard themselves as middle class, this is actually an illusion. The middle class not only refers to a certain income,
More importantly, it has its own sustainable cultural capital, social capital and economic capital, as well as the corresponding lifestyle and social consciousness. In our country,
People with such conditions are not enough to call themselves middle class, because the number is small and it is impossible to form a complete class for the time being. Why is it difficult to form a middle class?
At present, the polarization of China society is increasing, and the most important reason may be the existence of an "overall elite class", which monopolizes social resources too much and infringes on the interests of many social classes.
The resources that should have been occupied by the social middle class are now monopolized by the whole capital. As far as the current trend is concerned, maintaining the scale and boundary of the "whole elite" class and forming corresponding closure,
Is an important goal of this course. While the wealthy class with overall capital continues to get rich, it is not only in rural areas,
Part of the urban population fell into poverty. (Note 5) Social stratification that is more in line with the objective situation should include the following aspects: (1)
Overall elite. They are small in number but have the most social resources, and their influence on public policies is growing. (2) the intellectual class. Most of them are highly educated,
But not the middle class, but as intellectuals active in all fields of society. This class also has many branches.
Some people are likely to approach or enter the whole elite or form an alliance with the whole elite through their own capital, work achievements and opportunities. Some people are engaged in knowledge production and creation,
If they become knowledge operators, their income will be higher, and they will pretend to be middle class. The interests of other intellectuals are compensated by national redistribution. If they don't get redistributed compensation,
Intellectuals abandoned by the market also tend to be populist; (Note 6)③ The civilian class. They account for the largest proportion of the population,
Most people basically live on state wages. Due to the different situation of each unit in society, the income is also very different. Some people are self-employed and maintain "small" enterprises and businesses. Others may live on pensions. This course can't talk about the quality of life very well.
But it can basically reach the level of "food and clothing"; (4) the poor class. Sociologists have analyzed that this stratum is the direct result of the re-accumulation of resources in the 1990s.
A large-scale "vulnerable group" has been formed. This is because they live in poverty and are in a weak position in the market competition, that is, at the social and political levels.
They are also often in a weak position. The original vulnerable groups were mainly in rural areas, and now there are more and more urban poor groups. Judging from the current situation,
The disadvantaged groups in our society are mainly poor farmers, migrant workers in cities and laid-off workers in cities. (Note 7) Their survival mainly depends on the relief of the state and social welfare institutions.
Some people make a living by selling works of art, while others become vagrants and beggars.
The above four categories are basically isolated. If social status, power and economic factors are excluded,
From a cultural point of view, it may be appropriate to describe the phenomenon of class closure. One of the most effective tools for class closure is the "cultural barrier", which is not subjective. In many ways,
Objective existence. Let's analyze it in detail.
Second, is the segregation between classes the function of "cultural barriers"?
In our society, the existence of social classes is already a social fact. With the widening gap between income, status and consumption significance,
Established obvious class boundaries and played an obvious role in protection and exclusion. Among them, "cultural barrier" has gradually become an explicit and implicit boundary sign of all walks of life.
Or a kind of "cultural symbol", without the cultural symbol of this class, you can't enter this class. Similarly,
Without the same cultural symbol as you, you can't identify with him and establish a relationship with him. If you have to define cultural barriers, can you try to describe them like this? The so-called cultural barriers refer to:
Groups with different cultural identities and status have different cultural capital, cultural taste, cultural consumption and different lifestyles and values. In this homogeneous cultural group,
Through communication and action, a common consciousness of class culture protection and exclusion-cultural barrier has gradually formed, which prevents people from other classes from entering this class.
It also makes the interests of people in this class inviolable. Cultural barriers sometimes act on class protection in an explicit way, and sometimes exclude contact with other classes in an implicit way.
The above definition of cultural barriers is not invented by the author.
Many sociologists and cultural scholars have discovered this phenomenon through the study of different social classes and different races, but the expression or description of this phenomenon is different.
Messer thinks that there are two classes in society: elite and non-elite or the masses.
. Elite is a social group with special power to give orders relative to its number. This group has three core elements (also called three C's): (1)
Group consciousness-elite members must consciously realize the existence of elites and their membership; (2)
Cohesion-the actions of individual members must meet the requirements of group interests; (3) Conspiracy
-There must be information exchange among members, and the common strategy must be constantly developed to enhance the interests of the group. These three core elements constitute a kind of "cultural barrier" of this class.
Thus effectively preventing other classes from flowing to this class,
It provides the most effective protection for the interests of the elite and maintains their unique way of life. Even though higher education has given some people the cultural capital to flow to the elite, if they really want to enter this class,
There are many other standards and requirements, once accepted by the elite, then he must have the three core elements of this group.
In modern society, different classes have different cultural capital, which is not only obtained through certain educational channels,
It also needs a specific class cultural environment and cultural consumption. As far as cultural capital is concerned, the author once considered himself an intellectual class.
But not middle class. This society is now characterized by a knowledge-based economy. As intellectuals, it is obvious that they will be respected by all sectors of society. When intellectuals aim to enter the elite,
When he keeps in touch with the elite, the first thing he feels is how to break the "cultural barrier" between him and this class. As we all know, Julian, the hero of Stendhal's novel Red and Black,
In order to enter the upper class, he learned the manners, manners and clothes of upper class people and learned to communicate with them.
Talk about topics they are interested in. In this way, through the introduction of a lady in the upper class, he successfully entered this class, and through the cultural symbols and actions he expressed,
So as to gain the recognition of this class. This situation may be feasible in the society at that time, but in today's society, it is intellectuals who are "well educated".
To enter the "elite class", a company should not only have the resources and conditions it needs, but also have the equivalent economic capital and consumption habits. For example, when you enter this class,
Or participate in their activities, their clothes can be described as expensive "brand names." Even if you can spend tens of thousands of dollars to configure your clothes, you can't build a real friendship with them.
They invite you to join a golf club or some health clubs with expensive membership, so I'm afraid you have to refuse. When you talk to them at some activities,
They are not interested in your knowledge at all, and if you want to join their class, you should talk about some experiences and ideas according to their topic. If they talk about their experiences abroad,
Talk about foreign consumption and play, then you have to listen. If they are all members of the BMW car club, let alone you. If you are a female intellectual and participate in their activities,
It is very likely that you were recognized by the female aristocrats of this class as soon as you entered, and you do not belong to their class. They just need to smell your perfume to know it's cheap and good.
Look at your clothes and jewelry to know your level and foundation of consumer culture, so that they will not take the initiative to associate with you. As an intellectual, you also feel that they lack the basis and conditions for dialogue with you.
They can't really fit into your class. This obvious phenomenon of class separation is the function of "cultural barriers".
The phenomenon of class cultural barriers is not only manifested in adult society,
Even in kindergartens, primary schools and middle schools, there is a phenomenon of social stratification. The author has done research in some kindergartens and primary schools. When attending activities,
The author suddenly found a phenomenon. Children are not casual when choosing a partner. They always choose children who are similar to their own families as partners. Why is this happening?
This phenomenon caught my attention. So I spent some time observing and analyzing this phenomenon. Pay attention to what children play and say. Some children come from wealthy families,
Most of their parents are managers or successful businessmen. Their children know from an early age which clothes are famous brands, which toys are the most popular, which books are the best, and where restaurants are delicious.
Where is the most interesting amusement park? These children have communication, common topics and feelings together. At this time, if a working-class child participates in their conversation,
Obviously, these children have a "discriminatory" expression. When I ask them why they don't like this child, they will say that he is stupid. He has never even been to an amusement park.
He doesn't know and can't play with the toys I said. His father picks him up by bike every day, and we all go home by car. I'm really surprised that such a young child said such a thing.
But if you think about it carefully, it is no wonder that what the child said is actually a thing in life. of course，
The lifestyle and cultural consumption of wealthy families are different from those of working-class families. Because children bring their own family habits and symbols,
Being together is bound to find a partner who can "get along". It seems that economic capital is the basic indicator to distinguish between rich and poor families, then,
Cultural capital is a symbol of different classes. Cultural capital not only plays a role in a generation, but also has the function of inheritance and reproduction. Cultural barriers between classes are always expressed and replicated through cultural capital.
The sociologist Bourdieu once paid attention to the phenomenon of cultural barriers.
And try to prove the role of cultural capital in it. He pointed out that practical activities such as going to the theater to watch performances, visiting museums, listening to concerts and reading newspapers,
The distribution in the population depends on different classes. This distribution can be attributed to the relationship between educational achievements and cultural practice-the ability to participate in cultural practice is obtained through educational experience. It seems that certain cultural customs are coded,
Therefore, only those who can interpret this code can obtain these cultural practices, and the key to interpretation is granted through education. The distribution of educational keys depends on different social backgrounds. Bourdieu believes that,
Only a well-educated family, that is, a family with taste, can get this key. Therefore, Bourdieu distinguished three grade circles: legal grade circles.
Medium taste and popular taste. (Note 9)
Bourdieu analyzed the relationship between cultural barriers and education,
He defined the relationship between cultural capital and social reproduction. The economic ruling class can prove its superiority according to the way it receives higher education, making it in the upper position (
Superordination) position legalization. Members of the subordinate class are not only limited by material things,
It is also at a disadvantage in the face of higher education opportunities. The fact of social inequality system has also been legalized. For example, although in business management,
A university degree is considered a necessary qualification for managers.
However, the proportion of managers' children entering universities to take courses in this field is still high, and the education system has the functions of cultural reproduction and social reproduction. In this case,
In order to gain opportunities and capital for upward social mobility, the role of education is obviously becoming more and more important in modern society.
Because education has the reproduction function of cultural capital,
And can safeguard the interests and purity of the elite. In the late 1980s, some "aristocratic kindergartens" and "aristocratic schools" began to appear in China.
These educational institutions have good teaching environment and facilities and "first-class" teachers with high salaries. Because of the high cost, working-class children have long been rejected.
Cultural barriers began to play an important role in school education, effectively preventing the flow of other classes to the upper class. In addition to providing the highest quality education,
These aristocratic educational institutions also pay attention to cultivating students' aristocratic temperament and noble consciousness. Due to the existence of "aristocratic schools" and the differentiation of education quality,
Some so-called educators began to put forward the concepts of "education marketization" and "education commercialization". If education is really pushed to the market, then, for the public,
The real educational opportunities will be smaller and smaller, the class differentiation will be more intense, and the "cultural barriers" between classes will be more firm and legal. But,
This trend is not popular in China today. For individuals, education still has the function of transcending cultural barriers.
The state's planning, support and standardization of education is indeed conducive to the social mobility of the masses. But this will threaten the interests of the "whole elite". When they can't really change the situation of education,
They will mobilize all resources, strengthen the control of the labor market, and regard high-paying jobs as scarce resources.
This intensifies the competition of senior talents for high-paying positions. When people see that the academic qualifications of high-paying jobs should be highly educated, it leads to the phenomenon of high academic qualifications.
At the same time, it also led to the devaluation of the degree. Talents have to be demoted and used in turn, thus ensuring the stability of the "whole elite class" and intensifying the competition and chaos of other classes.
Third, does education really contribute to social mobility?
As mentioned above, people pursue advanced degrees in order to get high-paying positions, and because some people have achieved their goals in this way (regardless of opportunities and proportions),
So as to enter the rich class. As a result, people have seen that the level of education really contributes to the upward mobility of society. In today's China,
The relationship between education and the labor market is inseparable. Different education levels divide the labor market into corresponding fields, and the employment standards in the labor market are set by academic qualifications;
The employment information of the labor market will be conveyed to the school in time, and the school will respond quickly and adjust the curriculum structure and professional direction.
To adapt to the changes in the labor market. When educational institutions produce more and more diplomas, the labor market becomes tense and delicate. In recent years,
There are more and more "unemployed" with college diplomas, and people seem to find that education only provides people with a qualification to enter the labor market.
Its function does not depend on the characteristics (social environment, gender) that an individual occupies in the social division of labor, as educational theorists say.
It depends on its acquired characteristics, especially its education level.
As we all know, there is an obvious law of social mobility: education provides people with the necessary cultural capital to get a good position, and with a good position, there will be high income.
High income is an important factor to ensure high quality of life, and it is also the economic capital to enter the rich class; In addition, there is a hidden rule of social mobility:
Obtaining high income and high status does not depend entirely on the educational level-cultural capital, but the characteristics determined by individuals at birth are more important. Nowadays, it is difficult for college graduates to find jobs.
The role of hidden rules has always been higher than that of clear rules.
From the perspective of gender, the unemployment rate of female students is always higher at a comparable level, and with the improvement of education level, the inequality between the two sexes will be weakened.
But it won't eliminate. In college, girls are more interested in learning than boys, because it is more difficult for them to find a job without a diploma. That's it,
After entering the labor market, many female students still face unequal treatment. Many employers limit the number of female students or don't recruit at all. Compared with female students,
There are more employment opportunities. Although people interpret this fact as the corresponding result that girls concentrate on literature or vocational education in the tertiary industry. There is no doubt,
Part of the obstacles to the employment of female college students come from the fact that they are mainly located in the highly competitive labor market of the tertiary industry, especially the increasing number of female college students with academic qualifications has intensified the competition.
On the other hand, the influence of social background environment on employment distribution is slightly higher than that of gender. With the same educational background,
The employment situation of young people with low social background is not as good as that of young people from well-off families. Most of them are engaged in occupations that are not "valued" in the social ladder.
So the income is not high. The influence of social background on employment will be manifested through social networks that promote personal and professional environment. At the same level of education,
Higher education diploma holders with humble origins are unlikely to seek jobs from relatives and friends. It can be seen that young people who graduated from universities have more diversified occupations with the improvement of their parents' social status.
Choose many jobs for college students from working-class or poor class, and through competitive recruitment in exams, they are mainly concentrated in institutions. Although recruitment is open and social-oriented,
But the chances of actually being recruited are too small.
From the above example, it seems that besides diplomas, some "social capital" is also essential in the labor market.
People also realize that people can get jobs effectively by enjoying social capital. In this way, there is a subtle relationship between the use of capital and entering the labor market: as Bourdieu said,
In order to enter the labor market, young people should mobilize not only educational acquisition (cultural capital), but also material acquisition (economic capital) and relationship network (social capital). So,
Use the real "reproduction strategy", that is, various practical activities. "Individuals or their families intentionally or unintentionally tend to protect or improve their heritage through these practices,
At the same time, maintain or improve its position in the hierarchical relationship structure. "Therefore, behind the employment phenomenon is the phenomenon that one generation transmits social identity to another. (Note 10)
The above situation shows the overall operation of the labor market. In fact, the contribution of education to the labor market has been ignored. The process of education is actually the distribution of different people.