Cultural Capital

Cultural capital refers to the knowledge, skills, education, and other cultural assets that a person possesses, which can influence their social and economic status. This concept, developed by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, suggests that cultural capital can provide social mobility beyond economic means.

Cultural capital can exist in three forms:

1. Embodied capital: This includes knowledge and skills a person has gained through life experiences and education. It’s a part of a person’s mind and body, and cannot be transferred.
2. Objectified capital: This refers to physical objects that a person owns such as books, artworks, or scientific instruments. These objects represent a form of cultural capital which can be transferred, but the capital does not fully transfer unless the recipient has the cultural context to understand the value of the object.
3. Institutionalized capital: This form of cultural capital refers to recognition a person receives from an institution, such as degrees or titles. These are widely recognized and can often provide economic advantages.