Ain't No Makin' It Chapter 7

Leveled Aspirations:  Social Reproduction takes its toll

What is Social Reproduction?

 
You are a sociologist studying the aspirations of teenage boys living in a housing project called Clarendon Heights.  This is your first visit to the building, so it is up to you to approach a group to interview.  It quickly becomes apparent that there are two main groups of boys in Clarendon Heights. 

Both groups are made up of boys from low-income families.  You have gathered that most of the boys aspire only to working class jobs.  You must use the knowledge you already have as a sociologist and the knowledge you gather from talking to the boys of Clarendon Heights to draw conclusions to add to your developing book on aspirations and attainment in a low income neighborhood.

The first group, the Hallway Hangers, is made up of eight boys, mostly white.  They appear to do a lot of drinking and drugs.  They appear to be very vulgar and do not seem particularly cheerful or motivated.

The second group, the Brothers, is made up of seven boys, most of them black.  They do not appear to use drugs at all and rarely drink.  They seem more polite than the Hallway Hangers and seem very involved and active.
 

If you choose to approach the Hallway Hangers, turn to page 37.


If you choose to approach the Brothers, turn to page 94.



If you choose not to do either, you are a terrible sociologist.