In this weeks reading Bourdieu talks about habitus and how it relates to people in society.
Habitus are ideas that are formed within people individually, they are thought of as real and their
origins are unknown. Once these ideas are formed they are difficult to changed because of
bodily hexus, which are emotional and physical memory.
Take race for example. The culture American society is for people to focus on race rather
than a character of a person. Because of this people have their thoughts and opinions about
races that causes stereotypes and racism within the nation. Some of these ideas include the
notion that all black people are naturally bad and that white people are naturally good. Sometimes
these ideas are learned but usually, racial opinions are formed because of interactions and
situations that a person has been placed into.
Because these habitus, or ideas, are formulated and planted into ones head it becomes
what Bourdieu calls fields. Fields are usually organized places where social things occur.
However, although fields are real they are a state of mind. Fields have boundaries and limitations
on what one can and cannot do. (Sort of like social norms, in my opinion). Fields have four
properties to them; there are rules, they are defined by boundaries, there are stk, and they are
field specific.
Since fields are a state of mind it takes over people’s mind for the better or the worse.
For example, because of the habitus ideas on race within America, a person who is unemployed
and looking for work must understand the field that he/she can play in and how to play it. If an
African American male is looking for work within a corporate America (usually dominated by
white males), then he must understand that in order to land a position or to even be considered,
he must play the part or work the field. This means that he must be able to not only do the work
that comes with the job but he must also be knowledgeable and understand the world of the
white employer (outside of workplace). If the African American man does not do this then he will
not get the job. The same goes for a white woman who is trying to obtain a job at an all black
beauty salon. There are rules and boundaries that the white women must follow in order to play
the field within a black salon.
Habitus and fields are complex ideas but people use them in everyday life without notice.
In my opinion, if habitus didn’t exist then neither would fields. If people, did not have preconceived
notions and stereotypes then there will be no need for people to play the field and have certain
rules and boundaries. But boundaries and rules are how the country is ran, therefore, we will
always have habitus and unless people understand how to play the field, they will always be
stuck in the traps of America.
Habitus are ideas that are formed within people individually, they are thought of as real and their
origins are unknown. Once these ideas are formed they are difficult to changed because of
bodily hexus, which are emotional and physical memory.
Take race for example. The culture American society is for people to focus on race rather
than a character of a person. Because of this people have their thoughts and opinions about
races that causes stereotypes and racism within the nation. Some of these ideas include the
notion that all black people are naturally bad and that white people are naturally good. Sometimes
these ideas are learned but usually, racial opinions are formed because of interactions and
situations that a person has been placed into.
Because these habitus, or ideas, are formulated and planted into ones head it becomes
what Bourdieu calls fields. Fields are usually organized places where social things occur.
However, although fields are real they are a state of mind. Fields have boundaries and limitations
on what one can and cannot do. (Sort of like social norms, in my opinion). Fields have four
properties to them; there are rules, they are defined by boundaries, there are stk, and they are
field specific.
Since fields are a state of mind it takes over people’s mind for the better or the worse.
For example, because of the habitus ideas on race within America, a person who is unemployed
and looking for work must understand the field that he/she can play in and how to play it. If an
African American male is looking for work within a corporate America (usually dominated by
white males), then he must understand that in order to land a position or to even be considered,
he must play the part or work the field. This means that he must be able to not only do the work
that comes with the job but he must also be knowledgeable and understand the world of the
white employer (outside of workplace). If the African American man does not do this then he will
not get the job. The same goes for a white woman who is trying to obtain a job at an all black
beauty salon. There are rules and boundaries that the white women must follow in order to play
the field within a black salon.
Habitus and fields are complex ideas but people use them in everyday life without notice.
In my opinion, if habitus didn’t exist then neither would fields. If people, did not have preconceived
notions and stereotypes then there will be no need for people to play the field and have certain
rules and boundaries. But boundaries and rules are how the country is ran, therefore, we will
always have habitus and unless people understand how to play the field, they will always be
stuck in the traps of America.