The formation of the elites in São Paulo

Abstract

This article focuses on the educational system's contribution to the creation and reproduction of social hierarchies in Brazil. Drawing on Weber's and Bourdieu's works, it reports the findings of research on the secondary school experiences of the elites in São Paulo. The economic dimension of the Brazilian student's social origin carries special weight in the determination of his or her schooling path. Private, expensive schools nearly monopolize the preparation of students to enter the most prestigious university courses. Financial prosperity is not sufficient, however. In order to obtain the necessary diplomas, students are subjected to strict school requirements, imposed by the public universities' entry exams. The Brazilian educational system has a legitimizing power due to a capacity to present itself as transmitting a stock of knowledge deemed necessary for occupying many of the privileged positions. At the same time, it contributes to the creation and reproduction of social differences by inculcating the students with dispositions typical of specific social groups.