Clutural Reproduction and Lifestyle

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between cultural reproduction and lifestyle in the social stratification process in Japan. The application of LISREL models to 1995 SSM data shows two main routes of cultural reproduction. First, respondents' class of origin determines inherited cultural capital. Then, the inherited cultural capital affects lifestyle and high cultural activities. This process concerns habitus and cultural transmission by the family. Second, class of origin influences educational achievement, which influences destination. Then, destination determines high cultural activities. Also, the second route shows the cultural transmission by school and class conditions.
The two main routes of cultural reproduction, family route and status attainment route, are affected by each other; however, substantive differences in the cultural reproduction process exist between men and wemen: (1) Wemen's class of origin has a positive effect on destination directly in contrast to men. (2) Wemen's destination influences their lifestyle directly, unlike men. (3) Men's inherited cultural capital affects both educational achievement and destination, but that of women affects educational achievement only. (4) For women, status attainment by marriage is an important life event, because lifestyle is influenced by destination. (5) Wemen's origin has a direct effect on destination. These findings also support our two main routes-model of cultural reproduction and lifestyle.