Nike identities

Question 1

What are “Nike identities”?

Answer 1

WC invest in brands to draw WC identity

Question 2

Why do WC pupils create Nike identities?

Answer 2

Pupils were aware that school looked down on them, this symbolic violence led them to seek alternative ways of creating self-worth, status and value

Question 3

How did WC create Nike identities?

Answer 3

We created meaningful class identities for themselves by investing in “styles” and consuming branded clothing like Nike

Question 4

What are style performances?

Answer 4

Style performance were policed by peer groups and not conforming was “social suicide”

Question 5

What happens if pupils wear the “right” brands and style?

Answer 5

The right appearance earned symbolic capital and approval from peer groups and brought safety from bullying

Question 6

Why do Nike identities cause conflict with schools?

Answer 6

Schools see “street styles” as bad taste, which reflects the middle-class habitus of education.

Question 7

How does the school’s middle-class habitus affect WC identities?

Answer 7

Archer argues that the MC habitus stigmatises WC pupil’s identity, making them appear inferior or inappropriate

Question 8

Why do Nike identities lead some WC pupils to reject university?

Answer 8

University is seen as a middle-class space where they wouldn’t fit in.

Question 9

Why might university seem unrealistic to WC pupils?

Answer 9

They may believe they won’t achieve the grades needed

Question 10

Why might university seem undesirable to WC pupils

Answer 10

They feel they would have to change how they talk, dress, and act.

Question 11

What is WC self-exclusion in education?

Answer 11

WC pupils will choose to self-exclude from education as it doesn’t fit in with their identity or way of life

Question 12

What is the evaluation for Nike identities?

Answer 12

Parsons would say that reinforcing school rules and dress codes prepare students for workplace expectations, helping them move from particularistic standards (home) to universalistic standards (work). This is so they have the skills to into the high complex division of labour