A Level Sociology Education AQA Practice Exam

What did Archer (2010) discover about pupils' identities?

1. They preferred traditional fashion styles

2. They created 'Nike identities' to enhance their perceived class worth

3. They rejected consumer culture entirely

4. They focused solely on academic achievements

The correct answer is: They created 'Nike identities' to enhance their perceived class worth

Archer's research in 2010 highlighted how pupils, particularly from working-class backgrounds, engaged in creating what she termed 'Nike identities.' This concept illustrates how these students adopted certain cultural symbols and fashion choices associated with popular brands, like Nike, as a way to negotiate their social identities and enhance their perceived worth within a school context and broader society. By aligning themselves with these brands, pupils gained a sense of belonging and status, which helped them cope with the stigma often attached to their social class. This behavior reflects a deeper engagement with consumer culture, where the brands and styles they chose played a significant role in shaping their identities and self-perception in the face of societal expectations. Other options present different perspectives. For instance, traditional fashion styles don't capture the complexity of students' identity formation influenced by larger socio-economic dynamics. Additionally, rejecting consumer culture entirely overlooks the ways in which students actively engage with and navigate that culture to forge their identities. Focusing solely on academic achievements fails to recognize the multifaceted identities pupils construct, which includes social, cultural, and economic dimensions. Thus, the significance of 'Nike identities' encompasses the interplay of class, consumption, and personal identity in contemporary educational settings.