Unpacking Social Capital: Implications for Low Income Minority Youth

Background and Purpose

There has been much discussion in the literature about the promise of social capital to address issues of poverty and inequality in America (Warren, Thompson & Saegert, 2001). Ferguson (2006) demonstrates how social capital can facilitate positive outcomes related to children’s and youth’s well-being. Social capital is characterized by relationships based on trust, reciprocity, norms and expectations. As a result of such a relationship then social capital is resources embedded in a network; such resources include access to knowledge, information, opportunities etc. Within the last decade, youth development practitioners and scholars alike have sought to develop programs that develop social capital among youth with the hope that social capital will promote positive developmental outcomes. Despite these promising findings, scholars have also documented the context specific nature of social capital and demonstrated how inequalities persist among low income communities of color (Cleaver, 2005).

This paper explores a combination of peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters about social capital theory and its current application to youth development and youth development programs (YDP). Key articles and book chapters offer frameworks to understand how youth develop social capital, discuss the types bonding, bridging, linking and critical social capital and consider social capital’s multiple dimensions as they pertain to youth studies and youth development programs employing a social capital framework.

Methods

The articles and book chapters were found using the following databases; Academic Search Complete, Social Services Abstracts, PsychInfo and ERIC. Other articles were found from the references of the articles that emerged from the original search. Articles and book chapters published between 2005 and 2015 were included. However, reports and white papers were not included in this literature review. Keywords used in the search include social capital theory, youth development, minority youth and low income youth.

Findings

A critical synthesis of the literature revealed that youth development philosophy, process of participation, the combination of various types of social capital and the role of adults are central components that contribute to the development of social capital among all youth. This review also revealed that prevailing social capital theories have failed to discuss the impact of race and income on the development of social capital which demonstrates the need for further research to understand the development of social capital for low income minority youth.  

Conclusions and Implications

The findings from this research can inform the development of a theory of social capital that recognizes race and socioeconomic status. Likewise such a theory can inform empirical research projects that seek to understand direct and indirect effects of race and class on the development of social capital for youth. Low income youth face many barriers that limit their full participation in society. Social capital has the power to engage youth in developing meaningful relationships that can aid in dismantling barriers posed by the social stratification that is embedded in perspectives, philosophies, institutions, practice and outcome.