Journal article

Publication year: 2016

Pages: 55-64

Journal: Journal of Education and Human Development

Volume number: 5

Issue number: 4

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.15640/jehd.v5n4a6

URL: https://jehd.thebrpi.org/journals/jehd/Vol_5_No_4_December_2016/6.pdf

Publisher: Scientific Journals International (SJI)

Abstract: 

Our article presents some of the key findings of a qualitative study that is based on biographical interviews toinvestigate three generations of first generation students in East and West Germany since the Second WorldWar. Focusing on the influence of political and societal conditions on individual upward mobility througheducation, we developed a conceptional framework that combines Pierre Bourdieu’s theory with the conceptof political opportunity structure by Sidney Tarrow. This combined theoretical approach enables us toinvestigate the dynamics of fostering mobility by creating access to higher education. These dynamics can bedescribed as typical opportunity structures which we explain in the article. Another important result refers toseven different structural elements that are favorable to educational advancement, e.g. changes in habitusthrough education, institutional incentives or a broad positive public discourse. These structural elements wecould find across the different types and individual cases. Finally, that enables us to connect our findings toan international discourse on first generation students, social inequality, and higher education.

Harvard Citation style: Miethe, I. and Soremski, R. (2016) Educational Advancement in Three Generations. East and West Germany in Comparison, Journal of Education and Human Development, 5(4), pp. 55-64. https://doi.org/10.15640/jehd.v5n4a6

APA Citation style: Miethe, I., & Soremski, R. (2016). Educational Advancement in Three Generations. East and West Germany in Comparison. Journal of Education and Human Development. 5(4), 55-64. https://doi.org/10.15640/jehd.v5n4a6