Biomecánica

2.8.2.1.1 Definition of cultural capital

Bourdieu expanded the scope of capital beyond economic capital to encompass cultural capital. Cultural capital can be broadly defined as the people’s symbolic and informational resources for action (Bourdieu & Wacquant, 1992). According to Throsby (2003), cultural capital is an asset which embodies, stores or gives rise to cultural value in addition to whatever economic value it may possess. In the SAGE dictionary of cultural studies, cultural capital is defined as “a social relation within a system of exchange that includes the accumulated cultural knowledge that confers power and status” (Barker, 2004, p. 37). Cultural capital refers to the form of

knowledge, skills, education, and advantages that a person has, which give that person a higher status in society. An individual’s operational skill, linguistic style, values and norms are perceived through education and life-long socialisation (Bourdieu, 1986). Normally, cultural capital is associated with the education system and education is one of the determinants of cultural capital (Kim & Kim, 2009). For example, parents provide their children with cultural capital by transmitting the attitudes and knowledge needed to succeed in the current education system. The accumulation of cultural capital takes time. In addition, cultural capital

encompasses a broad array of linguistic competencies, manners, preferences and orientations (Bourdieu, 1977). In simple terms, Bourdieu (1986) defined cultural capital as the competence of an individual in a high status culture: a person needs to be equipped with a wide range of knowledge, skills and ability in order to succeed in society.

2.8.2.1.2 Types of cultural capital

There are three variants of cultural capital: embodied state, objectified state and institutionalised state (Bourdieu, 1986). Firstly, the embodied state of cultural capital is incorporated in a person’s mind and body which is usually inherited from their family through socialisation, culture and tradition. This type of cultural capital cannot be transmitted spontaneously but requires time for acquisition which depends on time, society and social class. Secondly, the objectified state of cultural capital simply exists as cultural goods or art forms, such as heritage buildings, books, artefacts, dictionaries or paintings which allow the individual to possess the ability to use the material objects which have been procured with capital (Bourdieu, 1986). Thirdly, the institutionalised state of cultural capital more often is in the form of the academic credentials or qualifications of individuals. Thus, cultural capital is shown to be non-materialistic and subjective which makes it difficult to accumulate and transfer (Kim & Kim, 2009).

However, Thorsby (2003) categorises cultural capital differently by grouping cultural capital into two forms: tangible and intangible. The tangible form of cultural capital refers to art-works and artefacts, such as paintings, sculptures, heritage buildings, locations and sites (this is the same as the objectified state of cultural capital

proposed by Bourdieu (1986)). The intangible form of cultural capital includes music, literature, inherited traditions, values and beliefs which constitute the ‘culture’ of a group, whether the group is defined in national, regional, religious, ethnic or other terms. Intangible cultural capital also exists in the cultural networks and relationships that support human activity, and in the diversity of cultural manifestations within communities. It is an important factor that supports the socialisation of individuals in a community and society. Accumulation of cultural capital has a limit and cannot progress beyond the capacities of the individual agent. The capital will decline and die with its bearer in terms of the individual’s biological capacity and memory. Cultural capital can be measured by the amount of time devoted to its acquisition, as it is a time consuming process.

2.8.2.1.3 The importance of cultural capital

Cultural capital plays a role in influencing those who move to new places or countries, especially migrants. The cultural capital they acquire will affect the way they adapt to their life in the new setting. Embodied and institutionalised states and the intangible form of cultural capital will become the main aspects influencing migrants’ acculturation in new settings. Cultural capital in the form of values, perceptions, knowledge and behavioural norms about food practices provides the non-material resources to develop food practices and deal effectively food security issue on everyday basis (Abel, 2008). Nutritional behaviour including knowledge about health effects of certain food products will structure people’s food

preferences, choices and eating habits. A study done by Goto and co-workers (2014) on children's healthy eating practices in rural Japan identified the role of cultural capital such as the preservation of traditional Japanese dietary habits and eating rules as a key to healthy feeding practices.

Cultural capital has a significant influence on migrants’ food security, such as the way migrants access or prepare food in their host country (Bourdieu, 1986; Throsby, 2003). The inherited cultural beliefs and values of migrants make them culturally different from other groups, which presents challenges to migrants (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010; Rosier, 2011). As cultural capital is acquired through time, it is impossible for migrants to change their culture and adapt to the

new culture soon after arrival. While acculturating into the new food culture over time, migrants tend to retain their traditional food habits, such as cooking skills (Kruger et al., 2012). Academic qualification or education level is part of cultural capital and also acts as one of the factors in food security (Cannon, 2008; Rosier, 2011). The level of education contributes to improving food security and health, for example, knowledge about diet nutrition can help people have a healthy diet and lead a healthy life. Therefore, cultural capital plays an important role in determining the level of food security.