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

“Brown Sugar,” which went platinum, made D’Angelo a star — cultural capital he spent in assembling a group called the Soulquarians to record “Voodoo” at a supremely unhurried pace that allowed the music to bloom with intricacies à la Prince or Stevie Wonder.

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

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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.

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“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.

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

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