‘Peer social capital’ and networks of migrants and minority ethnic youth in England and Spain

Abstract

This article discusses friendships and peer groups of migrant and minority ethnic youth in schools in England and Spain, and critically considers them in relation to existing notions of ‘peer social capital’ and bridging (heterogeneous) and bonding (homogeneous) peer networks. The article argues for an extended understanding of peer social capital and discusses the complex composition and outcomes of bridging and bonding peer networks. It critically discusses both facilitators and barriers to friendships experienced by migrant and minority ethnic youth in schools, and considers them in relation to school practices.

Keywords:

• Schools
• friends
• migration
• ethnicity
• peer social capital
• bridging and bonding networks

Notes

1. All of the names used in this article are pseudonyms. Attempts have been made to give the young people names which suit their ethnic and national background. Ethnicity and national/regional background are referred to in correspondence with British and Spanish census categories.

2. The interviews from Madrid were all conducted in Spanish, but translated in the writing up phase of the research

3. Secondary school students in Birmingham are usually divided into sets in their core subjects according to ability.