cultural capital

[kuhl-cher-uhl kap-i-tl]

noun

1. Sociology.,  the skills, education, norms, and behaviors acquired by members of a social group that can give them economic and other advantages.

   The accumulation of cultural capital is one route to upward mobility.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cultural capital¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

The mayor of London said the move would help to cement London as the "cultural capital of the world, with the best nightlife anywhere".

From BBC

The Into Games report highlighted barriers such as location, access to finance, reduced cultural capital and lack of networks which prevented people from lower socio-economic backgrounds from breaking into the industry.

From BBC

“He knows L.A. — knows that it’s home to both a super, super diverse and beautiful immigrant community, but also home to tons of media, cultural capital, financial capital,” Rosmarin said.

From Los Angeles Times

They had banked cultural capital and directed their large new audience to this music that many had never heard before.

From Los Angeles Times

Because even the robber barons were not that bad; at least they endowed some libraries and foundations and fellowships and had some idea of wanting to pretend to some sort of cultural capital.

From Salon