How Does Family Cultural Capital Influence the Individuals' Development?--Case Study about Left-Behind Children in China

This study provides an empirical investigation into the lives of kindergarten-aged left-behind children (LBC) who could not migrate with their parents in rural China. Two research questions are answered as follows: (1) What are the characteristics of the LBC in kindergarten and at home? and (2) How does family cultural capital influence the LBC's behaviors in kindergarten and at home? The study employs Bourdieu's concept of cultural capital, with a qualitative case study approach based on interpretivism being adopted. It was found that the LBC present different characteristics in kindergarten and at home and that their particular form of family cultural capital/environment is not supportive of their school-based development in China. The data on the LBC in the study provide insight into practices for policymakers and academics.