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Access to Forms of Political Learning

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Education, Democracy and Inequality

Part of the book series: Education, Economy and Society ((EDECSO))

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Abstract

This chapter identifies the potential barriers within the school system to learning political engagement. It draws on theories of Bourdieu and Bernstein, which help explain the relationship between socioeconomic background and the learning of political engagement in the home, and how this then influences the access to learning political engagement in the school environment. In addition, we draw on the social theory of Bowles and Gintis to explain the issue of access to political learning in school. The chapter also discusses theories regarding the potential inequality-enhancing or inequality-mitigating effects of different forms of political learning.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    These accounts also demonstrate the complexity of the intersectionality of inequalities of class, gender and race. Future research needs to take this research a step further by exploring these complexities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Science, University of Roehampton, London, UK

    Bryony Hoskins

  2. Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK

    Jan Germen Janmaat

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  1. Bryony Hoskins
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  2. Jan Germen Janmaat
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Correspondence to Bryony Hoskins .

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Hoskins, B., Janmaat, J.G. (2019). Access to Forms of Political Learning. In: Education, Democracy and Inequality. Education, Economy and Society. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48976-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48976-0_3

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-48976-0

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