Faculty Publications

The Reproduction Of Inequalities Through Emotional Capital: The Case Of Socializing Low-Income Black Girls

Document Type

Article

Keywords

African Americans, Children, Emotion management, Inequality, Social reproduction, Socialization

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Qualitative Sociology

Volume

33

Issue

1

First Page

37

Last Page

54

Abstract

The concept of emotional capital suggests that adults transfer emotion management skills to children in ways that are consequential for the social reproduction of inequalities. Using ethnographic data from a popular after-school program, this study analyzes the emotional capital transmitted to low-income black girls by staff. They passed on four aspects of emotional capital: stifling attitude, being emotionally accountable for peers, sympathizing with adult authority figures, and emotional distancing from cultural "dysfunction." Staff intended to teach girls to manage their emotions as a way to counteract racism, but the socialization largely promoted emotional deference, thereby reinforcing racialized, classed, and gendered ideologies. © Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009.

Department

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

Original Publication Date

2-1-2010

DOI of published version

10.1007/s11133-009-9141-5

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