A third of all children and young adults have a migrant background in Germany. These young people have a lower chance of participating and succeeding in education compared to the majority population. There seems to be many factors which are often braided and coexisted when it comes to the analysis of the mechanisms of reproduction in educational disparities.
Parental aspiration plays an essential role in the child´s education and achievement. For example: their parents are less likely to use early childhood education and care, they are less likely to attend grammar school and are less likely to graduate than their fellow students without an immigration background. In addition, their skills in reading, mathematics and science are below average in both primary and secondary schools.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 “The Social Capital Theory“ by Bourdieu
3 State of research and the situation of the Turks
4 Aspiration and its nature
4.1 Theories explaining the Paradox
4.1.1 Immigrant optimism
4.1.2 Information deficits
4.1.3 Social capital in ethical networks
4.1.4 Blocked opportunities
4.2 Why migrants can't translate their high aspirations into educational success
4.2.1 Other disadvantages
4.2.2 Less impact of educational aspirations on migrants
4.3 Summary
5 Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper aims to investigate the so-called "aspiration paradox," where migrants often maintain higher educational aspirations than the native population despite frequently achieving lower educational outcomes. The research explores whether social capital and institutional knowledge, rather than parental aspirations alone, are the critical factors determining educational success for migrant families, specifically focusing on the Turkish community in Germany.
- Bourdieu’s Social Capital Theory and its application to educational inequality.
- Theoretical explanations for the aspiration paradox, including immigrant optimism and information deficits.
- The influence of ethnic networks and social capital on educational decision-making.
- Structural barriers and the translation of aspirations into academic achievements.
- Comparative perspectives on migration motives and their impact on future-oriented goals.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1.1 Immigrant optimism
Since the reason for migration is mostly to achieve something and improve living conditions, it is argued that migrants have a positive working moral and ambition. As a result, migrant parents have high demands on their children's educational outcome. Migrant families are often in low social conditions but see the situation as the price of migration. The most important way to achieve upward mobility is schooling for them (cf. Kao & Tienda, 1995, p. 1 ff.). This argument refers to the theoretical framework of Ogbu, which explains the great variability of the educational outcomes of ethnic minorities, differentiated between voluntary and involuntary minorities. Voluntary migrants, who come in the hope of a better life, see problems and difficulties as temporary. They use their homeland as a benchmark, since conditions have often been tougher, and therefore they see the progress in their living conditions, which also contributes to their optimism. Also, they are optimistic regarding their children's education, as they often perceive the school system in the host country as more progressive than that of their home country. However, when difficulties come up, they often blame them based on their language skills or their familiarity with the country's education system – factors that are considered temporary.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Introduces the educational disadvantages faced by students with a migration background in Germany and outlines the thesis that knowledge of educational institutions is more critical than parental aspiration.
2 “The Social Capital Theory“ by Bourdieu: Explains Bourdieu’s concepts of social, economic, and cultural capital, emphasizing how social networks and group prestige influence an individual's opportunity for advancement.
3 State of research and the situation of the Turks: Reviews existing literature on the higher educational aspirations of migrant families and provides context regarding the migration history of Turkish guest workers in Germany.
4 Aspiration and its nature: Defines the concept of aspiration and discusses the paradox where migrant groups maintain high educational goals despite unfavorable socioeconomic positions.
4.1 Theories explaining the Paradox: Outlines theoretical frameworks such as immigrant optimism, information deficits, and the role of social capital in ethnic networks.
4.1.1 Immigrant optimism: Details the theory that migrants maintain high aspirations because they perceive their current difficulties as temporary steps toward a better future.
4.1.2 Information deficits: Suggests that migrants set high goals because they may lack sufficient understanding of the institutional requirements and hurdles of the education system.
4.1.3 Social capital in ethical networks: Examines how support, guidance, and norms within ethnic communities act as a form of social capital influencing educational outcomes.
4.1.4 Blocked opportunities: Discusses how perceived discrimination or structural barriers can drive migrants to set high educational targets as the only path to upward mobility.
4.2 Why migrants can't translate their high aspirations into educational success: Investigates why high aspirations do not necessarily lead to equal educational outcomes compared to the majority population.
4.2.1 Other disadvantages: Identifies factors like socioeconomic status and language barriers as primary contributors to the disparity in academic performance.
4.2.2 Less impact of educational aspirations on migrants: Analyzes how institutional arrangements and a lack of specific knowledge might weaken the direct link between aspirations and school success.
4.3 Summary: Concludes the theoretical discussion by highlighting the lack of empirical evidence and the need to view these approaches in the context of specific migrant groups.
5 Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and suggests that future research should focus on the interplay between aspirations, institutional information, and structural rules.
Keywords
Migration Aspiration, Educational Inequality, Social Capital, Bourdieu, Immigrant Optimism, Turkish Migrants, Educational Success, Schooling, Upward Mobility, Information Deficit, Ethnic Networks, Structural Barriers, Academic Achievement, Socioeconomic Status, Integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the phenomenon of the "aspiration paradox," where migrant families often report higher educational aspirations for their children than the native population, despite these children frequently facing greater educational disadvantages.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The core themes include Pierre Bourdieu’s social capital theory, theoretical explanations like immigrant optimism and information deficits, the impact of ethnic networks, and the structural barriers within the German educational system.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to challenge the thesis that migrants have "lesser" aspirations due to their social background and instead show that a lack of institutional knowledge and systemic barriers are more significant factors in educational outcomes.
Which scientific methods are primarily utilized?
The paper uses a comprehensive literature review and theoretical analysis, synthesizing sociological theories and empirical studies to investigate the relationship between migration status and educational goals.
What does the main body of the work address?
It provides a theoretical foundation based on Bourdieu, discusses the specific history of Turkish migrants in Germany, and analyzes various sociological theories explaining why aspirations often do not convert into actual success.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Migration Aspiration, Social Capital, Educational Inequality, Immigrant Optimism, and Upward Mobility.
How do "blocked opportunities" influence migrant aspirations?
The paper suggests that when minorities perceive discrimination in the job market, they may respond by setting even higher educational goals as a strategy to overcome these barriers through formal qualifications.
Why might well-intentioned migrant parents still fail to see their children succeed?
The research points toward a combination of socioeconomic disadvantages, potential information deficits regarding the German school system's complexities, and the influence of institutional mechanisms that may not adequately support those with lower social capital.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2020, Migration Aspiration, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/518513
