strata

Question 1

Social boundaries

Answer 1

“objectified forms of social differences manifested in unequal access to - and
unequal distribution - of resources (material and non-material) and social
opportunities” (Lamont & Molnar, 2002: 168

Question 2

Stratification

Answer 2

Different strata (or layers), based on social/socioeconomic factors, have
unequal access to resources such as money, power, prestige, jobs etc.
* Boundaries between the layers may be more or less permeable (i.e. social
mobility)
* Examples strata: social classes, ethnic groups etc.

Question 3

Symbolic boundaries

Answer 3

conceptual distinctions made by social actors to categorize objects, people,
practices and time and space” (Lamont & Molnar, 2002: 168

Question 4

capitals

Answer 4

Symbolic capital

Cultural capital

Economic capital

Social capital

Question 5

Habitus

Answer 5

internalized and embodied
mindset based on class

Question 6

Symbolic violence

Answer 6

Upper classes have the power to define what ‘bad taste’ is
(symbolic capital)
* Lower classes accept that their preferences are less valuable
* Role ideology! Legitimation of inequality!

Question 7

Criticism on ‘distinction’

Answer 7

• Habitus and freedom of choice?
• Cultural omnivore? Elites no longer highbrow snobs?
• (Peterson & Simkus, 1992)
• ‘emerging cultural capital’ – do we need to rethink cultural capital in the 21st century?
• (Prieur and Savage, 2011)
• From what to how = data/methods issue
• Bourdieu’s inbuilt whiteness – no attention paid to how whiteness polices class; no attention paid to
  the ethno-racial logics of cultural captial
• Wallace (2017), Meghji (2019), Rollock (various)
• French? A.k.a.: not universal?
• See Paul DiMaggio’s answer