Wealthy Families and the Transmission of Advantage: Understanding the top 1%

At the start of the 2026/2027 winter semester, the renowned sociologist of family and inequality, Prof. Annette Lareau, will be a visiting scholar at Bielefeld University. For decades, her books and findings have been studied worldwide across various disciplines to help understand the social mechanisms behind the production and reproduction of inequality.

As part of the Pierre Bourdieu Lectures, Prof. Annette Lareau will deliver a public lecture in English on October 15 (Lecture Hall 5 / hybrid) titled “Wealthy Families and the Transmission of Advantage: Understanding the top 1%.” In this talk, she will provide insights into her latest research on US economic elites and the family strategies used to maintain status.

Serving as this year’s fellow at the Research Institute for Social Cohesion (Forschungsinstitut Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt) at the Bielefeld site, she is strengthening research into the political significance of the (re)production of extreme inequality and collaborating with the work package led by Bielefeld researchers Dr. Barış Ertuğrul and Prof. Ullrich Bauer.

Additionally, a workshop focused on elite research will be held the following day (Friday, October 16) for a select group of researchers. Those interested are asked to send a brief email to baris.ertugrul@uni-bielefeld.de and ullrich.bauer@uni-bielefeld.de.