Social classes use cultural capital to assert dominance from "summary" of Distinction by Pierre Bourdieu
The dominant classes employ cultural capital as a means of asserting their superiority over subordinate classes. This cultural capital consists of knowledge, skills, tastes, and habits that are valued and recognized in society. These dominant classes use their cultural capital to distinguish themselves from others, reinforcing their position at the top of the social hierarchy. Through the possession of cultural capital, the dominant classes are able to maintain and reproduce their dominance over time. They use their cultural knowledge and practices to set themselves apart from those lower in the social order, creating a sense of exclusivity and privilege. This exclusivity helps to reinforce their social status, ensuring that they remain at the top of the hierarchy. Furthermore, the dominant classes use cultural capital to legitimize their position of power in society. By defining certain tastes, preferences, and practices as superior, they are able to justify their privileged position as natural and deserved. This cultural legitimacy serves to reinforce the dominance of the upper classes, making it seem both inevitable and acceptable. In contrast, subordinate classes often lack the cultural capital necessary to challenge the dominance of the upper classes. Their knowledge, tastes, and habits are devalued in society, making it difficult for them to assert themselves as equals. As a result, the dominant classes are able to maintain their position of power and authority, using their cultural capital to reinforce their superiority over others.- The concept of social classes using cultural capital to assert dominance highlights the ways in which knowledge, tastes, and practices are used to create and maintain social hierarchies. By recognizing and understanding the role of cultural capital in shaping social relations, we can better understand the mechanisms through which power and privilege are maintained in society.
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