The Three Forms Of Cultural Capital

One of the biggest influences that shape who we are is the environment in which we are raised. Some say that we are a product of our own environments. Being raised in a low-income family doesn't give the child a fair chance for success or access to various opportunity. Because of this, there are many obstacles and struggles that must be overcome. It is said that children raised in low income families are worse off than those with money. Impoverished youth do not receive quality education, support systems, and minimal opportunities. These key factors sometimes can lead the youth to become products of their environments and the cycle to continue. Pierre Bourdieu, one of the most influential sociologists presents 3 forms of Capital that could
Cultural capital is what you have and what you know and in turn is the source of social inequality. Lower social class is equivalent to less cultural capital. Cultural capital exists in three different forms which are embodied state, objectified state and Institutionalized state (Bourdieu). The embodied state is what we know. Knowledge is formed early in childhood and plays a huge role in our development and understanding. In low income families, the parents are often consumed working long hours to provide for the family. This could result in a lack of reading to and assisting their children with homework. This affects the development of language and literacy skills and in turn the child has difficulty performing in school and an even bigger problem in adulthood. The second form of cultural capital is the objectified state. This consists of material objects we acquire to define our social class. This is an example of the expression “Keeping up with the Joneses”. This phrase implies that in society we compare ourselves to what material goods the other has and strive to have the same because certain material goods are equated with power and higher social class. An example of these material goods are luxury cars, designer clothing, jewelry, large homes, etc. Trying to acquire things outside of one’s means may result in crime. Some poor feel that crime is the only way to success or gaining things they can not afford with hard work alone. The last form of cultural capital is the institutionalized state. This is gained through obtaining educational degrees. Because institutionalized capital can be exchanged for economic capital, society uses this to gauge social capital. Low income families do not have the economic capital to afford a college education without government assistance and in some cases, they do not see going to college as achievable. In some families, the children are unable to go to college because they must work to