School experience in Taiwan : social class and gender differences

• Main Author: Li, Jen-Ying
• Published: University College London (University of London) 2012
• Subjects: 306.43; Quantitative Social Science
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.590869

Educational attainment has been a central debate in the field of educational research for a long time. Moreover, regarding inequality in educational attainment, social research has been dominated by questioning the association between educational attainment and gender, ethnic and social class inequalities. When considering social class inequality, one universal conclusion can be drawn: the higher family social status, the better academic attainment. This is also true in Taiwan, as is the case elsewhere. However, I want to ask: does social status influence other educational outcomes in addition to academic attainment, and if so, how? With respect to this question, I argue that beside educational attainment, students’ school experiences can be considered as an important educational outcome; furthermore, it may be influenced by social status and gender. The aim of this research is to investigate the experiences of year 8 students in Taiwan: what are their perceptions of school experiences?, and more specifically, what extent family social status and gender are associated with different students’ perception of parents’ educative capital and their own educational habitus, which in turn influences pupils’ school experience. Indeed, this study intends to expand the relationship between social status/gender and education; moreover, to examine a dynamic structure between family social status/gender influence and personal perception. After the process of data analysis, many meaningful findings are examined. Family socioeconomic status did not make direct impact on students’ relationship with peers and teachers; and parents’ educative capital did not affect educational attainment directly either. In addition, surprisingly, gender difference made no difference on all measured aspects. By holding such information, it will be possible examine the phenomenon of youth development and secondary education in Taiwan.