Families young people and health; intersecting racialization and social class

Introduction: With the current global economic uncertainties, recession and projected increases in poverty especially amongst young people, understanding how diverse family formations and cultural dispositions toward physical... [ view full abstract ]

Introduction: With the current global economic uncertainties, recession and projected increases in poverty especially amongst young people, understanding how diverse family formations and cultural dispositions toward physical culture and health shape young people’s engagement is crucial. Families in this sense are engaged in the cultural transmission of values related to physical culture, which could (re)produce dispositions, agency and perpetuate existing structural inequalities and dispositions. Theoretical Framework & Methods: The discussion developed is based on Ball’s (2010) suggestion that it is necessary to look beyond the school establishment if we are to explain inequalities in health, sport and physical culture. The paper draws on social theory in an effort to explore the ways in which the ‘pedagogised’ family in cultivating young peoples dispositions towards physical activity and health. A qualitative methodology was adopted, to better understand 10 families’ perceptions of health and wellbeing and especially participation in physical activity for health and wellbeing. The research involved interviews with whole families (38 participants) to explore determinants to physical activity for health and wellbeing and gain further insights in the way migrant families conceptualise health and well being. A series of accounts of these migrant families’ voices were produced using a thematic analysis. Results and Conclusion: The “pedagogized” family as will be argued in this paper reproduces class distinctions and reinforces existing structural inequalities, especially when markers of habitus in multiple fields are intersecting, with regards to physical culture. I conclude that families within similar social groupings taste and experience inequalities in various forms and levels. As such families adopt diverse (informal) pedagogic practices and dispositions toward physical culture despite being categorised under the same social groupings in society.