The cultural practices of first-generation college graduates: The role of childhood cultural exposure

Abstract

Abstract Using data from the 2012 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, I examine the association between childhood cultural exposure and adult cultural practices and tastes for first-generation college graduates, comparing them with college graduates who have at least one college graduate parent (continuing-generation). Without accounting for childhood cultural exposure, first-generation graduates, with a few exceptions, have modestly lower rates of cultural participation, though they are more similar to those in their destination group than those in their origin group. Childhood cultural exposure is positively associated with adult participation, appears to explain some of the differences between first- and continuing-generation graduates, and appears to partially explain the higher extent to which continuing-generation graduates involve their own children in culture. My findings imply that treating all bachelor’s degree recipients as similar may overlook continuing cultural capital differences, and that early exposure to culture plays a role in these differences.