Education Studies

• Archer - W/C girl identities

  • Hyper-heterosexual feminine identities - one girl spent £40 of babysitting money on her appearance
  • They constructed identities that combined black urban American styles with unisex sportswear
  • This brought status within their female friend group and avoided them being labelled as 'tramps' for wearing the wrong brand
  • Brought them into conflict with the school - labelled as unsuccessful in education, Bourdieu describes this as symbolic violence as their culture is defined as worthless
  • Archer says the 'ideal female pupil' is a de-sexualised and middle class one