Bourdieu, cultural capital & habitus

What is cultural capital according to Pierre Bourdieu?

Non-financial assets like knowledge, behavior, and cultural experiences that help middle-class children succeed in school.

How do schools treat cultural capital, according to Bourdieu?

They often assess it as if it were intelligence and reward it, reinforcing inequality.

What is habitus in Bourdieu’s theory?

A set of deeply ingrained habits, skills, and dispositions shaped by one’s social class.

Why do teachers relate better to middle-class pupils, according to Bourdieu?

Teachers often share a middle-class habitus and unconsciously favor students with similar traits.

How can working-class habitus be perceived in schools?

Negatively — as a sign of lower intelligence or effort, even unconsciously.