An excerpt from a response from my Sociology of Education class…
Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital refers basically to all the sets of beliefs, practices, ways of thinking, knowledge, and skills passed on from ones social class; the idea is that certain cultural behaviors or norms carry along with them certain stratified value. These behaviors also give certain groups advantages in their ability to navigate through social institutions. Examples include but aren’t limited to mainstream English, appearing “clean-cut”, valuing things like public education and organized religion, fine art, golf, and designer clothes.
In a general sense, middle to upper class students are taught and possess the cultural capital that is valued in our social system. Nonetheless, all students have cultural capital, but all cultural capital isn’t valued the same. Groups belonging to the upper crust of society typically determine what is viewed as acceptable behavior and what behavior is deemed valuable. Though other groups possess valuable cultural assets, they aren’t rewarded by our society and are actually seen as inferior.
Success in school has been linked to certain students having been transmitted the cultural capital that a given society rewards. These students learn how to emulate the behavior that elicits the rewards/resources of mainstream culture. Thus Bourdieu assumes that many students are successful not because they are superior students so much as these students knowing and appreciating the things that will bring them “merited” rewards.
In a general sense, middle to upper class students are taught and possess the cultural capital that is valued in our social system. Nonetheless, all students have cultural capital, but all cultural capital isn’t valued the same. Groups belonging to the upper crust of society typically determine what is viewed as acceptable behavior and what behavior is deemed valuable. Though other groups possess valuable cultural assets, they aren’t rewarded by our society and are actually seen as inferior.
Success in school has been linked to certain students having been transmitted the cultural capital that a given society rewards. These students learn how to emulate the behavior that elicits the rewards/resources of mainstream culture. Thus Bourdieu assumes that many students are successful not because they are superior students so much as these students knowing and appreciating the things that will bring them “merited” rewards.
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06:42:45
