Question

Explain how Swidler’s definition of Culture as a 'toolkit' differs from the definition of Culture as 'Values’. Explain the difference this makes in differentiating 'culture of poverty' theories of the persistence of poverty among some of the poor from theories that view the behavior of some of the poor as 'problem solving' within the social constraints they are confronted with.

Answer 1

Swidler "tool-kit "metaphor is a resource for understanding culturer and its influence.concepts and propositions related to tools, toolkits,strategies of action ,social framework for action,the continuum of tool awareness,and settled /unsettled social circumstances are summarized.the approach is compared to the culture as a values framework.

swidler (1986) refers to cultural tools as the resources necessary to construct"strategies of action".these strategies are like manuals guiding tool use or building plans.imagine the complex strategizing necessary to build a new deck or complete a home addition. a strategy of action enables a person to organize his or her behaviours so as to achieve desired situational and life goals.each strategegy is assembled from individual actions.

swilder and fargas culture as tool kit approach rejects this focus on individual value deficiencies. instead ,it suggests that inner city students participate in home ,school and community settings that are culturally barren .when such students look for cultural tools to pursue goals important to them and to mainstream students alike, they find few. available symbolic images of the social world and of the role identities necessary to act in that world allow only limited and generally unsucessful lines of action(swiler,1986)