Distinction (Pierre Bourdieu)

Distinction, by Pierre Bourdieu, refers to how people use styles, tastes, and preferences to signal their social position and distinguish themselves from others. It suggests that our choices—like clothing, music, or leisure activities—are not just personal but are influenced by social class, helping reinforce social boundaries. These preferences serve as symbols of identity, showing where someone fits within society’s hierarchy. Essentially, Bourdieu argues that what we enjoy and how we present ourselves are connected to our social background and can both reflect and reproduce social inequalities.