Bourdieu in de buurt : Sociale klassendebat en de klassenstructuur van Rotterdam

Studies by Savage et al. (2013) and Vrooman, Gijsberts and Boelhouwer (2014) introduce new class typologies that combine Bourdieu’s work with latent class analysis. This paper identifies this new research approach as Bourdieusian latent class analysis. We discuss the role of these studies within the social class debate and we review the merits and limitations of this approach. In addition, we show how the class structure of Rotterdam can be empirically established by studying the distribution of economic, social and cultural capital. We use the Neighbourhood Profile data (N = 14,040; 71 neighbourhoods) to develop a class typology that includes eight social groups. This class typology complements conventional indicators of neighbourhood socioeconomic status and can be used to study ‘social mix’ and gentrification.

Gepopulariseerde cultuur, ritueel en het maken van erfgoed

The global interest in the search for and rescue of the Thai youth football team ‘the Wild Boars’, or the nationwide interest in the non-stop fundraising swimming-tour of Dutch swimmer Maarten van der Weijden, are examples of what in this lecture is called high density events: intense, often emotional occurrences, of an almost entertainment-like character, followed continuously by many. High density events shape and articulate ideas about who belong or do not belong to the (national) community. During such events, cultural forms, objects and practices are popularized, transferred and exchanged at a high pace, processes in which virtually anybody may become involved. Taking high-density events as object of research implies a focus on the making of heritage. In the repetitious, ritualized contexts of such events, certain cultural forms, practices and objects may become magnified and sacralised, to become heritage. Although any object or practice may be made heritage, the analysis should situate this making in its societal context, asking such questions as who were involved in the selection process, and why certain practices or objects are self-evidently attributed a heritage status and others not. With cultural identity becoming an ever more explicitly political issue, research into the making of heritage is the more urgent.

Dagcrème voor mannen, bier voor vrouwen : Voorbij genderstereotypen in reclame?

This paper studies representations of gender in television commercials that advertise products like beer and cosmetics to the gender they are traditionally not associated with. More specifically the question is whether, as literature about advertising and gender suggests, such commercials do indeed break with traditional gender stereotypes. A qualitative content analysis of ten commercials of this type reveals that this is not the case. Precisely because they need to try and bring about recognition and positive appreciation among the new target group, these commercials rather reproduce traditional gender stereotypes. So just like in ‘ordinary’ commercials men are represented here, too, as confident, active and interested in functionality, and women as insecure, passive and interested in aesthetics.

Migranten van het eerste uur: een verloren generatie op leeftijd?1

Scholarly attention for the position of older Moroccan and Turkish migrants has been rising in recent years. The focus lies on their relatively high vulnerability, as compared to non-migrant older Dutch their financial situation and living conditions are less comfortable and they have more physical and psychosocial health problems. Still, they have benefited from taking the step to migrate. Compared to age peers in the home country they are more prosperous and have access to better medical care, their (grand)children can look forward to a better future, and there is more space for personal freedom here. Moreover, the general picture of vulnerability does not do justice to the many older Moroccan and Turkish migrants who do have the right resources to grow old in a resilient manner. There is also increasing attention for the best type of care for those who need it the most. The dominant norm within the Moroccan and Turkish communities of children being their parents’ caregivers is increasingly clashing with the busy professional and family lives of the informal carers. One has to learn to accept that informal care is not always the only good or even the most suitable type of care. The current problem is that although there are culture-specific and multicultural (residential) care facilities, these are not enough to meet future care demands. Structurally fostering cultural sensitivity in regular care institutions is really needed too. A hallmark showing that migrant-friendly policies are being implemented can speed up this process.