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Frédérique Giraud’s article analyzes the transmission of cultural capital within families through the use of Montessori games and books, showing that this transmission is neither automatic nor a matter of simple inheritance. Instead, it requires continuous parental investment and intentional action....
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Université Catholique de Louvain
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Recherches Sociologiques et Anthropologiques |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/rsa/7056 |
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| Summary: | Frédérique Giraud’s article analyzes the transmission of cultural capital within families through the use of Montessori games and books, showing that this transmission is neither automatic nor a matter of simple inheritance. Instead, it requires continuous parental investment and intentional action. Contrary to the idea of a diffuse “cultural bath,” this is a deliberate process in which games, objects, and everyday learning activities become tools of socialization – well beyond the realm of legitimate cultural practices. A qualitative study of 65 families reveals that working-class households use Montessori materials to address academic difficulties and foster autonomy, while middle- and upper-class families use them to reinforce academic advancement and develop distinctive skills, transforming their domestic space into a learning environment. The article thus demonstrates that differences in cultural capital are not only about the possession of objects or skills, but also about how they are used and valued – challenging the notion of passive transmission and highlighting the central role of parental educational labor. |
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| ISSN: | 1782-1592 2033-7485 |