Social class culture cycles: How three gateway contexts shape selves and fuel inequality

Nicole M. Stephens, Hazel Rose Markus, L. Taylor Phillips

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

407 Scopus citations

Abstract

America's unprecedented levels of inequality have far-reaching negative consequences for society as a whole. Although differential access to resources contributes to inequality, the current review illuminates how ongoing participation in different social class contexts also gives rise to culture-specific selves and patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting. We integrate a growing body of interdisciplinary research to reveal how social class culture cycles operate over the course of the lifespan and through critical gateway contexts, including homes, schools, and workplaces. We first document how each of these contexts socializes social class cultural differences. Then, we demonstrate how these gateway institutions, which could provide access to upward social mobility, are structured according to middle-class ways of being a self and thus can fuel and perpetuate inequality. We conclude with a discussion of intervention opportunities that can reduce inequality by taking into account the contextual responsiveness of the self. ©

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)611-634
Number of pages24
JournalAnnual review of psychology
Volume65
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014

Keywords

  • Culture
  • Education
  • Inequality
  • Intervention
  • Social class

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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