Durkheim & Bourdieu on class & inequality

Summary

This lecture explores the development of class and inequality theories by French sociologists Emile Durkheim and Pierre Bourdieu. Durkheim's work on division of labor and its impact on social solidarity is contrasted with traditional and industrial societies. Bourdieu's concept of class is examined through the lens of capital, habitus, and field, highlighting the struggle for recognition and dignity as the driving force behind social hierarchies and distinctions.

Takeaways

• 📚 Emile Durkheim's work on class inequality is closely tied to his analysis of the division of labour in society.
• 🔗 Durkheim identified social solidarity in traditional societies as being based on shared customs and norms, contrasting with the occupational specialization in industrial societies.
• 🌐 Durkheim explained the evolution from pre-industrial to industrial societies, highlighting the increasing specialization of occupations as a key factor.
• 🛠️ Durkheim discussed three abnormal forms of the division of labour that lead to class and inequality issues in industrial societies.
• 💼 The concept of 'anomic division of labour' by Durkheim refers to the negative outcomes of rapid industrialization and poor economic policies.
• 🧩 Durkheim addressed 'forced division of labour', where inequality not inherent to the division of labour itself endangers social solidarity.
• 🤝 Pierre Bourdieu's sociological project focuses on how social inequality is organized around class divisions and perpetuated in society.
• 🏆 Bourdieu defined class based on the conditions of existence and the endowments of power or capital, leading to different 'habitus' or dispositions.
• 💼 Bourdieu identified four main forms of capital: economic, cultural, social, and symbolic, which determine an individual's or group's social position.
• 🌟 Bourdieu's concept of 'habitus' describes the set of dispositions that shape individuals' perceptions and actions, influenced by their social positions and capital.
• 🎲 Bourdieu's notion of 'fields' represents different social spheres with distinct structures and struggles for recognition and dignity.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the lecture on class and inequality?

The lecture focuses on the development of ideas on class and inequality by Emile Durkheim and Pierre Bourdieu, two famous French sociologists, and how their work relates to the ideas of Marx and Weber.

How does Durkheim's concept of social solidarity differ between traditional and industrial societies?

Durkheim argued that traditional societies had a simple division of labour with social solidarity based on common customs and norms, while industrial societies had a complex division of labour with occupational specialisation as the basis for social solidarity.

What is the 'anomic division of labour' according to Durkheim?

The anomic division of labour refers to an abnormal form where rapid industrialisation and poor economic planning result in economic crises, class conflict, and meaningless work, disrupting social solidarity.

What are the two main forms of inequality that Durkheim identified as external to the division of labour itself?

Durkheim identified a mismatch between the distribution of natural talents and social functions, and unequal exchange, particularly in the form of unequal contracts between people in unequal bargaining positions.

How does Pierre Bourdieu define class divisions?

Bourdieu defines class divisions in terms of the different conditions of existence, which provide people with different endowments of power or capital and different sets of dispositions for how they live.

What are the four main forms of capital identified by Bourdieu?

Bourdieu identified economic capital, cultural capital, social capital, and symbolic capital as the four main forms that are used in the struggle for social positions and recognition.

What is 'habitus' in Bourdieu's sociological framework?

Habitus refers to a set of durable and transposable dispositions that shape people's perceptions, judgements, and actions, and is structured by past and present conditions of existence and capital endowments.

How does Bourdieu conceptualise the social world in terms of 'fields'?

Bourdieu sees the social world as divided into different spheres or fields, each with its own structure of positions, rules, and forms of authority, where struggles occur over the distribution of capital.

What is the fundamental drive behind the struggles within Bourdieu's concept of 'fields'?

The fundamental drive behind the struggles within fields is the quest for recognition and dignity, as people seek a distinctive place and function within society.

How does Bourdieu's concept of 'habitus' influence an individual's practices across different areas of life?

An individual's habitus shapes their orientation to work, leisure activities, cultural consumption, social interactions, and various other aspects of life, reflecting their social conditioning and capital endowments.

What is the relationship between Durkheim's and Bourdieu's perspectives on class and inequality?

While both Durkheim and Bourdieu focus on class and inequality, Durkheim emphasizes the role of the division of labour and its impact on social solidarity, whereas Bourdieu focuses on the role of different forms of capital and habitus in shaping social positions and struggles within various fields.