Social Reproduction: The Process of Societal Preservation

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Social Reproduction Franklin Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States once said, “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; It is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”(1882-1945) Eloquently said president Roosevelt’s statement speaks volumes to the nations inequality as it infiltrates all sectors of life and seeks to maintain social order. The process of societal preservation is more largely known as social reproduction. As defined by sociologist Christopher B. Doobs, social reproduction “refers to the emphasis on the structures and activities that transmit social inequality from one generation to the next” (2013). Within this contextual framework four types of capital arise that contribute to the reproduction of society: financial capital, cultural capital, human capital and social capital. These forms of capital, referring to resources that aid in the production of goods, therefore play a critical role in social stratification, producing inequality with each new generation. In order to better understand the impact of capital on society we must take a deeper look at the four different types. Financial capital refers to the financial resources that are available to an individual, in which they are granted the privilege of investing in the building of community capacity and the accumulation of wealth. Possessing access to financial capital endows an individual with the power of choice in a capitalistic society. Choices such as where to live, what to eat, and more importantly how to think as financial capital grants access to various social institutions that predict life chances and therefore ultimately influence cultural capital. Choices made early... ... middle of paper ... ... US Society. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2013. Print. Gamarnikow, Eva. “Social Captial and Human Capital.” Encyclopedia of Community. 2003. SAGE Publications. 8 Aug. 2011. /. Giddens, Anthony, and Jonathan H. Turner. Social Theory Today. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1987. Print. Mogues, Tewodaj , and Michael Carter. "Social Capital and the Reproduction of Inequality in Socially Polarized Economies." University of Wisconsin. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. . Tzanakis, M. (n.d.). Bourdieu's Social Reproduction Thesis and The Role of Cultural Capital in Education Attainment: A Critical Review of Key Empirical Studies. Educate Journal. Retrieved April 29, 2014, from http://www.educatejournal.org/index.php/educate/article/viewFile/251/251

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