Social Inequality and Symbolic Domination In Pierre Bourdieu’s Theory of Social Practice

Social inequality remains a persistent sociological concern, encompassing not only the unequal distribution of material resources but also cultural distinctions, institutional practices, and symbolic relations of power. This study critically reassesses Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of social practice to explain how symbolic domination legitimizes and reproduces social hierarchies in contemporary society. Using a qualitative critical literature review, the study examines 12 contemporary scholarly works published between 2021 and 2025, along with Bourdieu’s foundational theoretical texts. The study analyzed the literature through critical thematic analysis and theoretical synthesis, focusing on the interrelationships among habitus, capital, field, symbolic power, and symbolic violence. The findings reveal five interconnected dimensions of social inequality: the reproduction of social dispositions through habitus, the unequal distribution and conversion of capital, the structuring of power relations within social fields, the legitimization of hierarchy through symbolic domination, and the reproduction of inequality across institutional and everyday contexts. The synthesis demonstrates that symbolic domination operates through the institutionalization of dominant cultural standards, the naturalization of social classifications, and the internalization of unequal relations as legitimate social arrangements. Evidence from educational, organizational, and digital contexts affirms that Bourdieusian theory remains relevant for explaining contemporary forms of social differentiation and power relations. Nevertheless, its application requires conceptual refinement to address emerging forms of capital, evolving social fields, and the potential for individual agency and structural transformation. This study advances sociological theory by integrating habitus, capital, and field into a relational analytical framework that positions symbolic domination as a central mechanism linking structural inequality with social reproduction. It concludes that understanding contemporary inequality necessitates examining both the material distribution of resources and the symbolic processes through which unequal social relations gain legitimacy.