Social Reproduction: University Students from Different Social Positions

Abstract

Extending higher education by establishing universities in almost every city across Turkey has increased the chances of students from lower social positions to access higher education. However, this has not provided democratization in higher education but turned the issue into a problem of the quality of accessed education for students from lower social positions. In this regard, it is important to examine whether increasing access to higher education means that students from different social positions are given the opportunity for upward mobility. This study aims to explain the relationship between higher education and social reproduction based on university, department, living conditions and activities for improving sociocultural qualifications among university students from different familial social positions. The data of the study, employing the quantitative research method, were obtained via the survey. For survey form, was obtained the approval letter “with the decision numbered 2019/04(09) at the meeting of Karabük University Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee on 27.02.2019” and “with the decision numbered 35853172-100 at the meeting of Hacettepe University Senate Ethics Committee on 30.04.2019”. It was applied to students studying at Karabük University in 2018-2019 spring academic year and to students studying at Hacettepe University in the 2019-2020 fall academic year. The data were collected from 800 university students. The study concludes that the fact that students from lower social positions in terms of paternal profession, paternal education level, and familial monthly income can access higher education does not mean that they are given the opportunity for upward mobility. These students continue to be disadvantaged in terms of universities and departments, living conditions during studentship, and skills for the labor market. On the other hand, students from higher social positions have access to diplomas with high value in the labor market and have the opportunity to invest in their social and cultural development as well as their academic qualifications. As such, it seems that higher education has become an effective tool in ensuring social reproduction and reinforcing existing inequalities.