Aint No Makin It

Jay Macleod asserts in his book titled "Ain't No Makin' It" the theory of social reproduction. This perspective relies on the class structure at the social level as being reproduced by the social environment of one's origin. This theory is in direct connection to the author's claim that the social world of a person is the establisher of the social status available for that person to obtain. This theory, although defined by two varying methods equates the same answer to social reproduction as prescribed by predetermined roles individuals find within their own cultural settings. Ain't No Makin It research papers have been written by our sociology experts. We will produce a custom written paper following your guidelines.

Ain't No Makin It Study

In Macleod's studies of a northeastern city's housing project, Clarendon Heights, he finds examples of this theory of social reproduction in varying forms, but nonetheless it is a general example of the order of the social world. The overall class structure remains virtually unchanged despite minimal mobility from one class to another. Macleod asserts that even though this a natural phenomenon to the social world, there is much evidence that aspirations or the lack of are reproduced from generation to generation.

Macleod derives his evidence to support his theoretical claims from his studies done on two distinct groups of boys from Clarendon Heights. The first group, called the Hallway Hangers, was a predominantly white group of boys who hung out extensively in a particular hallway of the housing project. These boys possessed a narrow view of destined expectations on their futures. The other group of boys called The Brothers, composed of all blacks, retained a relatively more optimistic view of their futures.

Ain't No Makin It Findings

The author's research relied on his involvement with these boys over the period of a year at which time he spent day and night gathering information through informal discussion, semi-structured interviews, and taped transcripts of conversations with individuals and groups. Macleod even interviewed parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and career counselors. The author attempts to relate his findings from the work done with the Hallway Hangers and the Brothers to that of the theoretical approach on social reproduction. In doing so he endeavors to classify his findings with the predetermined assumptions made by other theorists.

The evidence uncovered by Jay Macleod through the lives of the boys from Clarendon Heights does not clearly determine that future aspirations are derived entirely by social structure.While indicating that the limits within their social status and structure have a great influence on these boys a greater influence comes from that of a series of intermediate factors. Since the study was based on gender it can not be used as one such factor but a principle element to these boys future aspirations is that of race.