Being strategic, being watchful, being determined: Black middle-class parents and schooling

Abstract

This paper reports on qualitative data that focus on the educational strategies of middle-class parents of Black Caribbean heritage. Drawing on Bourdieu’s key concepts of habitus, capital and field, our focus is an investigation of the differences that are apparent between respondent parents in their levels of involvement with regard to schools. We conclude that, within a broadly similar paradigm of active involvement with and monitoring of schools, nuanced differences in parental strategising reflect whether academic achievement is given absolute priority within the home. This, in turn, reflects differential family habitus, and differential possession and activation of capitals.

Keywords:

• Black
• middle class
• parents
• Bourdieu

Notes

1. Gender is extremely important in this project; for example, we will be writing about the differential positioning of Black boys and girls by both their teachers and parents. However, in this paper the focus is on the interaction of class and race.

2. Nearly one-half (48%) of Black Caribbean men in Britain have a partner from a different ethnic group; the highest inter-ethnic relationship rate with the exception of those of mixed heritage backgrounds. The figure for Black Caribbean women is 34% (Platt 2009).

3. For example, the Family & Parenting Institute e-newsletter, the Black solicitors network, and the 100 Black Men of London e-newsletter.

4. Claudette has a professional diploma but did not take A-levels or a first degree. She took a postgraduate degree as a mature student. Her income is between £51,000 and £65,000 and her husband’s is under £35,000. Her occupation places her in NS-SEC class 2. Michael is also in class 2 and has a first degree. His wife has a first degree and a postgraduate degree and her occupation places her in class 1.1. They are owner-occupiers with a high combined income, Margaret alone earning over £81,000.

5. It is important to note here, although space permits the complexities of the argument being fully discussed, that Atkinson (2011) has recently criticized the use of ‘family habitus’ as a concept, arguing that it cannot be easily extended to the collective level and stay true to Bourdieu’s reasoning. Drawing on another of Bourdieu’s concepts, he suggests the use of the term ‘family-specific doxa’.

6. An examination still taken in some parts of England to access selective state-funded grammar schools.

7. Further to an earlier footnote, Atkinson (2011) suggests that the concept of ‘family-specific doxa’ is more able to accommodate dissension amongst family members than the concept of ‘family habitus’.

8. Jean is here describing governing body meetings. As the rest of the transcript makes clear, she is referencing both the formality and specialism of the language used, and also the unconscious deficit assumptions about working-class minority ethnic families.