Gatekeeper (Sociology)

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Under Gatekeeper (English: "lock-keeper", "Gatekeeper") are in the sociology understood people who, because of skills or positions have the option of the rise of people who also in sociology mobility to influence is called.

The gatekeeper studies go back to the psychologist Kurt Lewin , who originally examined decision-making processes regarding the use of food in families. The term initially only played a role in news research , but was then adopted by sociology.

Sociology of education

Gatekeepers in the education system are in positions where they control what are known as education thresholds. This can relate to school enrollment , transitions to higher schools, university entrance interviews and tests and also filling positions for professorships ( passing ). In the education system, the so-called university bluff or the symbolic capital of the students plays a role in the gatekeepers' decision-making .

In Germany, for example, primary school teachers perform the gatekeeping function by using their school type recommendations to select pupils, which does not happen regardless of the social origin of the school children.

Elite sociology

Gatekeepers in the economy determine vacancies through staff interviews. In a study by Michael Hartmann in 2002 , among others, it was found that the predominant part of the business elite was recruited from people who grew up in the relevant elite . This elite recruitment is carried out by gatekeepers who, based on their knowledge of the fine differences, recognize the affiliation of applicants to a social milieu that corresponds to them and promote this. According to Hartmann, the distinguishing feature is above all a certain confident demeanor.

Urban sociology

In urban sociology , the term urban managerialism describes how social gatekeeper , e.g. B. realtors or officials of the housing authorities, the socio-spatial structure of a city significantly.

See also

literature

Sociology of education
  • National Commission on Testing and Public Policy: From gatekeeper to gateway: Transforming testing in America. Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 1990.
  • Michael Vester : The selective expansion of education. The corporate regulation of educational opportunities in Germany. In: Peter A. Berger , Heike Kahlert (Ed.): Institutionalized inequalities. How education blocks opportunities . Juventa Verlag, Weinheim and Munich 2005, ISBN 3-7799-1583-9 .
Elite sociology
Urban sociology

Remarks

  1. ↑ This was found repeatedly in various studies, including the IGLU study .
  2. ↑ Michael Hartmann: The Myth of the Performance Elites 2002.