Self-explanation, self-evaluation, legitimation of social inequality: the case of community-college students in Hong Kong

In order to understand the legitimation of social inequality, it is necessary to understand not only what legitimising ideology is explicitly taught or implicitly conveyed at the institution of school, but also such institutional impacts on students failed by the system and thus disadvantaged in it:...

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Main Author: Yi-Lee Wong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2016-04-01
Series:International Journal of Adolescence and Youth
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2013.843466
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author Yi-Lee Wong
author_facet Yi-Lee Wong
author_sort Yi-Lee Wong
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description In order to understand the legitimation of social inequality, it is necessary to understand not only what legitimising ideology is explicitly taught or implicitly conveyed at the institution of school, but also such institutional impacts on students failed by the system and thus disadvantaged in it: how far have they integrated legitimising ideology into their inner consciousness? Referring to the accounts of 52 community-college students in Hong Kong as an example, this article seeks to examine their self-explanation – attribution of failure – and self-evaluation – perception of self-worth – in order to illustrate the legitimation of social inequality. Seeing themselves accountable for the failure and thus feeling inferior, research participants regard the education system as meritocratic and fair and thus as legitimate. Besides, they uphold a hierarchical attitude: what frustrates them is not the presence of an educational hierarchy but the fact that they fail to get to the top of the hierarchy.
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spelling doaj.art-11111a14ef6b428b8f19d7013a91265b2022-12-22T02:04:56ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth0267-38432164-45272016-04-0121225226610.1080/02673843.2013.843466843466Self-explanation, self-evaluation, legitimation of social inequality: the case of community-college students in Hong KongYi-Lee Wong0Department of Educational Administration and Policy, Faculty of Education, Chinese University of Hong KongIn order to understand the legitimation of social inequality, it is necessary to understand not only what legitimising ideology is explicitly taught or implicitly conveyed at the institution of school, but also such institutional impacts on students failed by the system and thus disadvantaged in it: how far have they integrated legitimising ideology into their inner consciousness? Referring to the accounts of 52 community-college students in Hong Kong as an example, this article seeks to examine their self-explanation – attribution of failure – and self-evaluation – perception of self-worth – in order to illustrate the legitimation of social inequality. Seeing themselves accountable for the failure and thus feeling inferior, research participants regard the education system as meritocratic and fair and thus as legitimate. Besides, they uphold a hierarchical attitude: what frustrates them is not the presence of an educational hierarchy but the fact that they fail to get to the top of the hierarchy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2013.843466community collegeHong Konglegitimationsocial inequalityself-evaluationself-explanation
spellingShingle Yi-Lee Wong
Self-explanation, self-evaluation, legitimation of social inequality: the case of community-college students in Hong Kong
International Journal of Adolescence and Youth
community college
Hong Kong
legitimation
social inequality
self-evaluation
self-explanation
title Self-explanation, self-evaluation, legitimation of social inequality: the case of community-college students in Hong Kong
title_full Self-explanation, self-evaluation, legitimation of social inequality: the case of community-college students in Hong Kong
title_fullStr Self-explanation, self-evaluation, legitimation of social inequality: the case of community-college students in Hong Kong
title_full_unstemmed Self-explanation, self-evaluation, legitimation of social inequality: the case of community-college students in Hong Kong
title_short Self-explanation, self-evaluation, legitimation of social inequality: the case of community-college students in Hong Kong
title_sort self explanation self evaluation legitimation of social inequality the case of community college students in hong kong
topic community college
Hong Kong
legitimation
social inequality
self-evaluation
self-explanation
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2013.843466
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