ABSTRACT

In this article we describe evolving educational aspirations and practices of female high school students and their families in the context of rapidly changing education and employment markets in Kolkata. We interviewed 35 families of girls attending two government high schools. The families are from lower middle-class and lower income backgrounds. The latter see access to education as a way towards upward social mobility. Using gender and social class as axes of analysis, we explore how these families negotiate educational aspirations and practices in connection with married life and motherhood. We also look at the influence of social, cultural, and economic capitals on the formation of aspirations, knowledge about careers, and the ability to put aspirations into practice. This work contributes to the domain of research on education and social class in India with a gendered perspective and a unique setting in government high schools for girls.

摘要

在本文中，我们描述了在加尔各答教育和就业市场快速变化的背景下，女高中生及其家庭不断变化的教育愿望和实践。我们采访了 35 个就读两所公立高中的女孩家庭。这些家庭来自中下阶层和低收入背景。后者将接受教育视为实现社会向上流动的一种方式。我们以性别和社会阶层为分析轴，探讨这些家庭如何协商与婚姻生活和母性相关的教育愿望和实践。我们还研究社会、文化和经济资本对愿望形成、职业知识以及将愿望付诸实践的能力的影响。