The researchers asked themselves how the knowledge of culture contributes to career success and whether this success is a result of people with certain cultural knowledge also having social network connections that can better help them in their careers. To answer these questions, they investigated the relationship between people’s cultural tastes, the sources of help in their social networks and their professions.
To this end, they made use of a large-scale panel study among roughly 1,000 Dutch citizens. In this study, people were asked about aspects including how often they had attended a theatre production, a ballet or dance performance, a classical concert, an opera or operetta, an arthouse cinema, a museum or an art gallery over the past year.
Their social networks were also mapped out, with inquiries about the characteristics of their contacts, including aspects such as their educational level, knowledge of literature, contacts in the media world or their income, holiday homes or knowledge of financial matters.
Cultural knowledge and connections
Knowledge of so-called ‘high-status culture’ indeed appeared to be related to having a better job. “People who recognise and understand the culture of a workplace fit in and connect better with their colleagues”, explains Roza Meuleman. “In job interviews, this cultural knowledge can also demonstrate that you possess certain skills and qualities related to motivation and performing well at work.”
In addition, the researchers saw that people with cultural knowledge could also tap into valuable networks. People who participate more in ‘high culture’ know more people with, for instance, contacts in the media world or knowledge of financial matters. These contacts can subsequently support their careers, for instance by providing advice or information on how to negotiate, how to present yourself, dress representatively or by pointing out certain vacancies.
Who you know matters
Cultural participation and education could therefore play a role in the access to certain cultural networks and, as a result, to better labour market positions. People from lower socioeconomic classes, for example, could benefit from this, because they are less likely to have been raised following the norms and cultural codes of higher status groups. The findings therefore underline the importance of cultural participation in the fight against unequal opportunities.
This research by Roza Meuleman and Gerbert Kraaykamp was financed by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and was published in 'European Sociological Review' in October.