Intergenerational Transmission and Reproduction of Family Cultural Capital

Abstract

Family cultural capital, as an important means of maintaining class status, has become a key concern for sociological scholars in recent years. Using Bourdieu's capital theory as the basic theoretical support, the study uses literature, fieldwork and interview research methods to comprehensively analyse and explore the content , links and characteristics of the dynamic process of intergenerational transmission and reproduction of family cultural capital. The study finds that: firstly, parents who have more family cultural capital and benefit from it tend to have stronger motivation to transmit family cultural capital. Secondly, the intergenera-tional transmission and reproduction of family cultural capital is manifested through two arenas: primary transmission at home and indirect transmission at school. Thirdly, the transmission of family cultural capital is a dynamic process that includes three stages: transmission, reproduction and transformation. Fourthly, the process is uncertain, long and persistent. In addition, this study makes recommendations on the role of fathers in family education.