French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu

Pierre Bourdieu was a French sociologist known for analyzing how social hierarchies and power are maintained through cultural practices. He introduced concepts like "cultural capital," which refers to non-financial assets like education, skills, or taste that influence social mobility, and "habitus," the ingrained habits and attitudes shaped by one's background. Bourdieu argued that our social environment and background significantly shape our preferences, opportunities, and perceptions, often reinforcing existing social inequalities. His work helps explain how societal structures persist and how individuals navigate a complex web of cultural and social expectations.