Date of Award
8-6-2007
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Dr. James W. Ainsworth - Chair
Second Advisor
Dr. Toshi Kii
Third Advisor
Dr. Elisabeth O. Burgess
Abstract
Despite efforts of U.S. education institutions to encourage study abroad participation, Black and low income students are severely underrepresented compared with their White and higher income peers. Literature reveals that a combination of individual and institutional factors influences study abroad involvement; however, they fail to address how these factors work to limit the participation of interested students. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 Black and White students to investigate how they navigate the study abroad process. Cultural and social capital theories were used to understand their experiences. My findings demonstrate that for students that did not study abroad, Blacks compared to Whites encountered more difficulties when trying to activate their available resources to navigate the process. Also, non participating White students were more likely to make the conscious decision not to invest their class privileges to study abroad compared with their Black counterparts. Together, these findings suggest that race and class play a role in the activation and usage of cultural and social resources to study abroad.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/1062358
Recommended Citation
Simon, Jennifer Renee, "“It’s Not Just What You Have, But How You Use It:” The Impact of Race and Class on the Usage and Activation of Cultural and Social capital in the Study Abroad process." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2007.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1062358