Summary of Distinction

Distinction, by Pierre Bourdieu, is a sociological study of the French bourgeoisie during the 1960s. The book examines the class structure in France and the cultural capital possessed by the various social classes. Through empirical research and interviews with members of the French bourgeoisie, Bourdieu looks at how class distinctions are maintained through education, taste, and lifestyle. He also examines how the bourgeoisie define themselves and how they are perceived by others. Ultimately, Bourdieu argues that class distinctions are perpetuated by the reproduction of symbolic capital within each class, and that true social mobility is difficult to achieve.