Status Fit: The Impact of Social Class and Discrimination on Young People

Lusófona University is part of the Status Fit project, a research initiative coordinated by researcher Leonor Costa, which aims to analyse how perceptions of social class and experiences of discrimination influence the well-being and development of children and adolescents aged between 10 and 16.

The project is based on the premise that social inequalities are not limited to racial or gender-related factors, but are also experienced and interpreted by young people in their daily lives through their socioeconomic status. These experiences influence educational pathways, interpersonal relationships, and physical and mental health, making it essential to analyse the role of social class as a structuring factor in experiences of discrimination.

Unlike other studies carried out in Portugal, Status Fit stands out by placing young people's own perceptions at the centre of the research, valuing the way they interpret and experience situations of inequality. This approach enables a deeper understanding of the social mechanisms that shape well-being during childhood and adolescence, crucial stages in identity formation.

One of the project's central components is its empirical focus, based on the systematic collection of data from young people aged 10 to 16, their families, and teachers. The project therefore seeks to map vulnerability to social class-based discrimination among Portuguese youth through a representative multilevel survey, contributing to an in-depth understanding of inequalities experienced in school settings and to the production of relevant scientific knowledge in this field.

Text
Matilde Gomez

Image
Beatriz Sobrado e Silva and Rui Simões

Production
Filipa Cavém

Editing
Marco Migueis