Cultural capital

What does Bourdieu mean by “capital”?

Bourdieu uses “capital” to explain inequality in education.

He identifies three types:

1. Economic capital – wealth and income

2. Cultural capital – values, knowledge, skills

3. Educational capital – qualifications

The middle class possess more of all three, giving them an advantage.

How can different types of capital be converted?

Bourdieu argues capital can be converted:

• Cultural → Educational:

  • cultural skills → qualifications

• Economic → Educational:

  • money → private schools, tutoring

This helps the middle class maintain advantage.

What is “selection by mortgage”?

• Middle-class families buy houses near high-performing schools

• this gives access to better education

Working-class families are excluded due to high house prices

→ reinforces class inequality

What did Leech and Campos find?

Leech and Campos found:

• middle-class parents are more able to:

  • afford housing near good schools

This shows how economic capital → educational advantage.

How did Sullivan test cultural capital?

Sullivan

• surveyed 465 pupils

• measured:

  • reading habits

  • TV preferences

  • cultural activities (museums, theatre)

  • vocabulary

This provided a way to measure cultural capital.

What is the evaluation of cultural capital theory?

Strengths:

• explains how culture links to achievement

• shows interaction of economic + cultural factors

• supported by research (Sullivan)

Weaknesses:

• doesn’t fully explain class differences

• may ignore in-school factors (e.g. labelling)