Habitus and Cultural Fit in Higher Education. Explaining the Genesis and Reproduction of Educational Inequalities Through Bourdieu’s Conflict Theory
Habitus and Cultural Fit in Higher Education. Explaining the Genesis and Reproduction of Educational Inequalities Through Bourdieu’s Conflict Theory

Summary/Abstract: This article addresses the phenomenon of educational inequality, which it attempts to explain through the application of the conflict theoretical perspective. First, I will discuss the rational choice approach which is often used in quantitative educational research on educational inequality. In contrast, I will then outline how educational inequality can be explained from the perspective of Bourdieu’s concepts. I will focus on the phenomenon of cultural fit and share insights from my empirical research study, “The fine differences in school careers.” In conclusion, I will argue for an inequality-reflective school development perspective, which places at its centre the awareness that phenomena of educational inequality cannot be explained exclu-sively by rational choices.

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