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Pierre Bourdieu (SOC2) - Coggle Diagram
Pierre Bourdieu (SOC2)
Structuralism
a theoretical framework that emphasises the underlying structures that shape human behaviour and social culture, often critiquing existentialism and phenomenology
Ferdinand de Saussure, linguist whose ideas laid groundwork for structuralism, particularly in study of language and its structures
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Biography
French sociologist (1930-2002) known for his work on social stratification, education, and cultural capital, who sought to bridge gap between objectivism and subjectivism in sociology
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conducted ethnographic research in Algeria, provided insights into complexities of culture and power dynamics
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his work can be seen as a response to and a development of structuralist ideas, integrating them with a focus on agency and practice
Key Concepts
Habitus: a system of dispositions shaped by social conditions, influencing how individuals perceive and react to the world around them
hexis - the physical embodiment of habitus, reflecting social class through posture and behaviour
"an acquired system of generative schemes" that aligns with the objective conditions of the social class which it is formed
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Fields: various social arenas (e.g. economic, cultural, education) where individuals compete for resources and recognition
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Capital: resources (social, cultural, economic) that individuals possess, which can be used to gain advantages in various social fields
Negotiated Advantage: the phenomenon where middle-class children secure better treatment and opportunities in educational settings compared to working-class peers
educational capital highly significant, influences access to opportunities
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Symbolic Violence: the imposition of the dominant culture's values and norms onto subordinate groups, leading to the internalisation of inequality
can link to Du Boisian concept of 'the veil' to highlight structural differences in inequality, and also 'double consciousness' of how this affects self-perception
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Field Theory: Focuses on external structures, explaining fields where individuals and groups compete for power and capital. Examines the rules, hierarchies, and power dynamics that shape these spaces.
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Practice Theory: Centres on individual agency and action, emphasising how people navigate these structures. Explores how habitus interacts with fields to produce practices and behaviours
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Criticisms
Deterministic, his framework may overlook individual agency (Jeffrey Alexander & Margaret Archer)
Archer focuses on the importance of reflexivity in enabling individuals to navigate and potentially transform their social environments
Alexander emphasises that cultural elements should be seen as having their own autonomy, rather than being solely determined by social structures
Limitations of sociology's unmasking approach, a need for more nuanced understandings of social dynamics (Bruno Latour)
Theory could be enriched by an intersectional approach, as he often emphasises class as central axis of analysis (i.e. matrix of domination framework by Patricia Hill Collins)
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Can his concepts/theories be applied to a global and transnational context or are they bounded to their field (Eurocentric)
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