From an international comparative perspective, this third book in the prestigious eduLIFE Lifelong Learning series provides a thorough investigation into how social inequalities arise during individuals' secondary schooling careers. Paying particular attention to the role of social origin and prior performance, it focuses on tracking and differentiation in secondary schooling, examining the short- and long-term effects on inequality of opportunities. It looks at ways in which differentiation in secondary education might produce and reproduce social inequalities in educational opportunities and educational attainment. Models of Secondary Education and Social Inequality brings together a number of cross-national and country studies conducted by well-known experts in the field. In contrast to existing empirical research, this book reconstructs individuals educational careers step-by-step, providing a longitudinal perspective essential for an appropriate understanding of the dynamics of inequalities in secondary education. The international viewpoint allows for an illuminating comparison in light of the different models, rules and procedures that regulate admission selection and learning in different countries. This book will be of great interest to policymakers, researchers and professional experts in the field, including sociologists, pedagogues, international political scientists and economists, and also serves as a major text for postgraduate and postdoctoral courses. Contributors include: A. Basler, C. Blank, H.-P. Blossfeld, Y. Brinbaum, S. Buchholz, M. Buchmann, W. Carbonaro, J. Chesters, D. Contini, J. Dammrich, H. Ditton, J. Dronkers, J. Erola, R. Erikson, H. Esser, G. Farges, H. Fend, E. Grodsky, C. Guegnard, M. Haynes, A.C. Holtmann, D. Horn, C. Iannelli, C. Imdorf, A. Karhula, M. Kazjulja, T. Keller, E. Kilpi-Jakonen, M. Klein, M. Koomen, R. Korthals, Y. Kosyakova, I. Kriesi, N. Kulic, D. Kurakin, W. Lauterbach, P. McMullin, S. Mollegaard, J. Murdoch, P. Robert, F. Rudolphi, E. Saar, A. Schier, S. Schuhrer, Y. Shavit, J. Skopek, E. Smyth, K. Taht, E. Tenret, M. Triventi, S. Wahler, F. Wohlkinger, M. Yaish, D. Yanbarisova, G. Yastrebov, M. Zielonka

Recognizing that social change over recent decades has strengthened the need for early childhood education and care, this book seeks to answer what role this plays in creating and compensating for social inequalities in educational attainment. Compiling 13 cross-national and multidisciplinary empirical studies on three interrelated topics, this book explores how families from different social backgrounds decide between types of childcare, how important parental care and resources at home are for children's educational success and the consequences of early education and care for children's diverging educational destinies. Analysing a currently neglected area in sociological research, expert contributors employ the most recent country-specific longitudinal datasets in order to provide an up-to-date portrayal of the patterns and mechanisms of early educational inequality. With its extended analytical window ranging from short- to long-term educational outcomes this book will undoubtedly appeal to students and scholars in the fields of childcare, education, and social inequality. It also contains important suggestions and evidence for practitioners and policymakers trying to combat inequality in educational opportunities. Contributors include: M. Attig, H.-P. Blossfeld, S. Bloemeke, A. Breinholt, Y. Brilli, M. Broekhuizen, S. Buchholz, J. Dammrich, E. Dearing, D. Del Boca, A.-Z. Duvander, J. Erola, G. Esping-Andersen, E.C. Frede, A. Karhula, E. Kilpi-Jakonen, Y. Kosyakova, N. Kulic, P. Leseman, F. McGinnity, P. McMullin, T. Moser, H. Mulder, A. Murray, D. Piazzalunga, C. Pronzato, H.-G. Rossbach, H. Russell, J. Skopek, P. Slot, W. Steven Barnett, M. Triventi, S. van Schaik, J. Verhagen, I. Viklund, S. Wahler, S. Weinert, G. Yastrebov, H.D. Zachrisson

The value of this book is the rich and highly informative account of variations regarding gender differences at labour market entry across different industrialized countries, and the use of longitudinal data. Hans-Peter Blossfeld and his first-class team bring to the fore how gender differences arise at the transition from school-to-work, and to what extent women are able to convert their educational attainment in labor market positions. Bringing together evidence from across countries, readers will come to understand the crucial role of institutional structures in shaping gender inequalities in life course transitions.' - Ingrid Schoon, UCL Institute of Education, UK'This volume provides essential reading for anyone interested in the relation between men and women in the labour market. By concentrating on the crucial transition from school to work in a large number of countries, the authors investigate to what extent the increased female advantage in education is converted into advantage in occupational attainment. By comparing countries, which differ in terms of educational and labour market organisation, the authors show how the opportunities of women and men vary - sometimes in unexpected ways.' - Robert Erikson, Stockholm University, Sweden 'The degree to which women have seen occupational and economic returns to their rising educational attainment relative to men largely remains an open question. This volume is the first comprehensive and highly-coordinated research effort to address this question with state of the art data and methods for a broad range of industrialized countries. . . Social scientists, policy makers, politicians, and students will all learn a great deal about the current state of gender inequalities at labor market entry across many countries and gain insights into what changes the future may bring.' - from the foreword by Claudia Buchmann, The Ohio State University, US For much of the twentieth century, women lagged considerably behind men in their educational attainment. However, in recent decades, young women have become an important source of human capital for labor markets in modern societies, as well as potential competitors to the male workforce. This book asks whether or not women have been able to convert their educational success into gains on the labor market. The expert contributors address the topic on a comparative level with discussions centred on gendered school-to-work transitions and gendered labor market outcomes. Thereafter they analyze the country-specific implications of the gender redress from a wide range of countries including the USA, Russia and Australia. This enlightening book will appeal to graduates and postgraduates studying social policy, education, the labor market, inequality and gender. It will also be of interest to experts in the fields of sociology, education, political science and economics and those interested in educational research. Contributors: P. Barbieri, D.B. Bills, H.-P. Blossfeld, Y. Brinbaum, C. Brzinsky-Fay, S. Buchholz, S. Buchler, G. Cutuli, J. Dammrich, A.M. Dockery, K. Hallden, J. Harkoenen, D. Horn, S. Hupka-Brunner, C. Imdorf, T. Keller, E. Kilpi-Jakonen, Y. Kosyakova, D. Kurakin, M. Lugo, P. McMullin, P. Miret-Gamundi, S. Mollegaard Pedersen, E. Saar, S. Scherer, S. Schuhrer, J. Skopek, K. Taht, D. Trancart, M.Triventi, M. Unt, D. Vono de Vilhena, S. Wahler, F. Weiss