Open access
EDUCATIONAL PATHS OF YOUNG POLES IN THE PROCESS OF REACHING ADULTHOOD
Jolanta GROTOWSKA-LEDER1, Marcin KOTRAS2
Publication language: English
Journal article
Transformations No. 4 (119) 2023, Publication date: 29 December 2023
Keywords: young adults, educational paths, achieving adulthood, educational inequalities
Abstract The paper aimed to analyse the transition into adulthood of young adult Poles, with particular attention to their educational experiences. The investigation frameworks are several theoretical perspectives, including concepts of the life course, the institutionalisation of the life course, reaching adulthood as a new stage of life, and P. Bourdieu’s concept of capitals. The analysis shows that achieving adulthood is a complex process influenced by various systemic factors and individual opportunities and choices. Educational paths are a crucial component of the process. They are differentiated by family material and cultural capi-tal. Young adults receiving early parental support are more likely to succeed in their education. Those young adults follow normative and career-oriented paths into adulthood. Conversely, those who face deferred or non-continued educational paths may struggle to achieve stability as adults due to a lack of resources and cultural capital.
Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
ORCID: 0000-0001-5034-0511
E-mail: jolanta_grotowska-leder@sggw.edu.pl
University of Lodz, Faculty of Economics and Sociology Poland
ORCID: 0000-0002-8939-3685
E-mail: marcin.kotras@uni.lodz.pl