On Bourdieu and Class

Bourdieu: Chapter 7

The material below is a list of notes I took on Ch. 7. My own comments will follow shortly.

Bourdieu is inspired by subtle but powerful forms of societal distinction.

(143) Bourdieu is concerned with
-social stratification
-how cultural and social class correlate

(144) Class, like habitus, capital, and field, is a major concept

To me this identifies class as something that is neither stable nor composed of a solitary component (ie. an economic factor). Class can be shaped by a variety of factors which may experience change within themselves

According to Bourdieu, class has a multidimensional and relational theoretical construct, as opposed to the realist concept.
-Social class (and class fraction) has characteristic habitus that generates specific practices.
Bourdieu does not use a purely objective or subjective approach, but rather looks at relational concepts of social reality.

(145) Social class is not rooted in objective structuralism of unequal distribution of class.

(146) The structural constructionist approach includes perceptions about actors and perceptions about behavior.

Bourdieu does not see class operating solely in terms of position in relations to production (as Marx would), but rather operates in a social space that is multidimensional and can't be reduced to one factor.

(147) Social classes are contested identities that are constructed through struggle, and have no clear cut boundaries. Image: flame.

(148) Class identities are constructed "relationally." Bourdieu's stratification framework includes objective resources and symbolic representations of class.

Class identity can be perceived, conceived, and materially constructed. According to Bourdieu, a class can be any group of individuals that share the same relationship to means of production--regardless of consciousness--AND have a shared interest which leads to collective awareness and action.

(151) "Class position" (class distinction) is a form of class struggle emerging from nonmaterial distinctions. On the other hand, "class situation" is grounded in material conditions which set the parameters for class position. Classes take on the appearance of STATUS groups.

Bourdieu integrates culture, tastes, and lifestyle indicators into his social class framework. Here, his framework can be distinguished from that of Marx because culture is a feature of social class, and by identifying status as a source of false consciousness-->cultural differences can serve as class differences.

(from Weber) Class is stratified (relational to production and the acquisition of goods). Status groups are created on the principles of their consumption of goods as represented by lifestyles.

(152) Actors are defined by "relative position" within social space and have intrinsic properties (their condition) and relational properties (position). Class is seen in terms of power and privilege. Both dispositions (what Weber may consider "life chances" and market power help shape classes)

(154) Bourdieu indicated that there are basic capitals: economic, cultural, social, and symbolic. Social class positions are defined based on the forms of capital possessed and how they change over time.

-other stratifying factors include in-class stratification concepts (gender, race, ethnicity, age, residence).

(155) Volumes and composition of capital give form and value to determinations which other factors (age, sex, etc) impose on practices.

Gender can function to stratifyàcreating gender class (secondary social class, according to Bourdieu—for which his work received criticism from some feminists)

Secondary social divisions can become socialized groups

(157) Bourdieu incorporates both structuralism and anti-positivism when postulating that class is composed of two total systems of factors: external existence and dispositions

(158) Bourdieu believes that social class is always constructed, based on statistical evidence and interviews.

Regarding French social class structure, economic factors are the most important, while cultural capital comes in second (France has a three tiered class system)

To create social classes which are primarily homogenous groups, a 3-D social space is defined which includes total volume of capital, compositions of capital, and social trajectory .

(159) It is possible to have intra-class fractions based on the amount of capital possessed. Those with the most capital hold the most power.

(160) Symbolic violence is the impositions of the dominant class culture on sub-groups.

(161) Researchers should use “scientific categories” rather than “bureaucratic categories” when identifying capital possessed. Occupational titles can be used, but one must examine underlying volume and composition of capital.

(162) Data should illustrate the complex oppositional and tentative characteristics of class relations.

Changes in capital volume and composition determine a group’s futureàin terms of both attitudes and practices.

The three social trajectories which characterize group movement are increasing, decreasing, or maintain the status quo.

Individuals who share volume and composition of forms of capital and social trajectory ALSO share similar class conditions à from this we can predict that there would be similar behavior (practices).

(163) Class structure becomes internalized in distinct class habitus.

Individuals enter fields of taste with dispositions which lead to particular lifestyles (practical experience of the symbolic dimension of class).

A relationship between class and lifestyle exists, in terms of “structures in opposition.” Individual’s preferences don’t matteràwhat matters is the systematic opposition to those of other classes.

(164) The primacy of habitus—rather than the amount of money—is what shapes consumer choiceàtastes stem from the idea of scarcity and abundance

(165) Differences in volume and composition of capital lead to differences in class condition lead to differences in class habitusàlifestyle differences

Distance from necessityàdifference in class habitusàdifferent tastes

(166) Difference in basic conditions produce “basic opposition” between tastes of luxury and necessity.

“Tastes of Freedom” can be distinguished from “Tastes for Necessity” in the following way:

Freedom: free from mundane necessities and practical daily urgencies; aesthetic disposition.

Necessity: substance over form; practical needs.

(169) “class racism” (note to self: can this be distinguished from “classism?: class identity is oppositional

(169-170) Habitus reflects underlying condition of existence AND relative position of individual and group in class hierarchy.

(172) Working-class autonomyàreflected in attitudes toward body, food, and language.

(173) Working-class choices are reminders of need for class solidarity

Education perpetuates class distinction and domination.

Experiences of social norms of conformity “keep” people in their class/condition/habitus. (Note to self “Matilda,” “The Jeffersons,” “Beverly Hillbillies.”

Please see:

for Matilda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgXXVSvXJfg

for The Jeffersons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRXCCS0tZ7g

for The Beverly Hillbillies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xKAEQNhjHs

(174) The disposition of machines/equipment is the underlying social relationship connecting the working-class to the =social world.

(176) Cultural practices are only possible when primary needs are satisfied.

(179) Practical translation of material conditionsàsymbolic distinctions which represent social functions of culture

(180) Competitive struggle rules all class struggleàactors pursue social reproduction strategies which maintain or improve position in the stratification order.

--Reproduction strategies depend on

---total volume and composition of capital to be maintained

---Converting/exchanging capital (181)

(182) Shifts from “family” mode of production to “education” mode of production

--intra-field vertical mobility (from elementary school teacher àcollege professor)

--inter-field movementàcapital reconversion (ex. Shop-owner invests in higher education to provide for family rather than transferring family business.)

--Occupational mobility does NOT equal change in class condition.

(184) Change in class situation (living conditions) is NOT incompatible with reproduction of class position (stratification order).

--Class conflict takes form of investments in cultural and symbolic distinctions.

(185) Classification struggle: Definition of what is valued and understanding of one’s position in fields. It dictates “sense of place”àfulfilling functions of inclusion/exclusion.

(186) Class power=nomination power (names, titles, codes which confer entitlement)

(187) Groups need leadership:

--possibility of class action is linked to the accumulation of symbolic power

--Class mobility=life chances (Weber) AND symbolic representation

--Intellectuals have key role in class struggle