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We're not rich, but we're definitely not poor: Young children's conceptions of social class

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  • Rauscher, Emily
  • Friedline, Terri
  • Banerjee, Mahasweta

Abstract

Relative deprivation theory suggests that perceived socioeconomic standing has implications for multiple aspects of life. Early childhood is critical for later development and concern about effects of rising inequality on children has grown along with inequality in recent decades. However, one of the key requirements for relative deprivation to matter for child outcomes is that children must have a sense of social class and their socioeconomic standing. Because the voices of children are often lost among current debates, this paper poses two questions: 1) How do young children conceive of social class and their standing in the distribution in the context of high inequality; and 2) How do these conceptions develop over time? We conducted longitudinal, semi-structured interviews with 44 young children (ages 5–6), who attend the same three elementary schools in a small Midwestern city. By following the same children over two years, this study is uniquely able to shed light on how conceptions of class develop over time. We found that, as children got older, they increasingly associated money with differences in quality, became more likely to assign value judgements to money, and became less reliant on verbal proof of wealth. Although many children misreport their own socioeconomic standing, our findings suggest young children are aware of social class inequality and may therefore experience relative deprivation. Reducing inequality could mitigate potential implications of relative deprivation for child development.

Suggested Citation

  • Rauscher, Emily & Friedline, Terri & Banerjee, Mahasweta, 2017. "We're not rich, but we're definitely not poor: Young children's conceptions of social class," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 101-111.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:83:y:2017:i:c:p:101-111
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.10.035
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wilkinson, Richard G. & Pickett, Kate E., 2007. "The problems of relative deprivation: Why some societies do better than others," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(9), pages 1965-1978, November.
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    4. Keister,Lisa A., 2000. "Wealth in America," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521627511.
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    6. Backett-Milburn, Kathryn & Cunningham-Burley, Sarah & Davis, John, 2003. "Contrasting lives, contrasting views? understandings of health inequalities from children in differing social circumstances," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(4), pages 613-623, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Imane Kostet & Noel Clycq & Gert Verschraegen, 2021. "‘Maybe Life Can Become Easier Because of My Good Grades’: Children’s Conflicting Repertoires on Aspirations and Life Chances," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 26(3), pages 581-600, September.
    2. Shoshana, Avihu, 2019. "Youth, class, and happiness," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 64-73.

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