Att välja rätt : – en fråga om klass och kön. En kvalitativ studie om elevers strategier i gymnasievalet.

Sammanfattning: This essay examines students’ choices of upper secondary school and how this choice of course is justified in relation to the students themselves. The study refers to the structural factors of social class and gender, using a theoretical framework based around the theories of Pierre Bourdieu and R.W Connell. The essay examines which strategies and disqualifying factors students use in discussions about their choice of upper secondary school courses. The strategies are categorised in terms of acculturation, disculturation, identificationand disidentificaion. The results in this study have been acquired from four focus group interviews and discussions with twenty four students.These results indicate that both class and gender have an influence on the students’ reasoning regarding their future choice of education. In several cases the students expressboth disidentification and disculturation towards various upper secondary school courses which are considered either ‘better’ or less desirable to study. Whatcan mainly be seen from the results is how the students describe a carefully considered balancing act between being seen as feminine or masculine and that it is important to be seen as respectable and to fit in with their own gender category. Social status plays more of a role when analysing the parents’ background and the ideas and values the students have gained from home. In addition, several students describe how dress codes in particular are a clear deciding factor when ruling out courses to study. The essay found all the strategies interacting with one another and impact on different levels. The important factor is “how” the student is using the strategies to counteract preconception on structural levels. The apprehension will be if the strategies reproduce and perpetuate unequal power hierarchies and ideals.