Class and Time-Based Subjective Inequality: Wealth Forecast

Description

Challenging the inference in social science that taking subjectivity into account somehow conflicts with approaches that emphasize the reality of the material conditions of existence, this book shows how subjective perceptions of one’s future can help to capture class and inequality, considering the extent to which material conditions (such as wealth, income, and power) are revealed by subjective indicators. That is to say, to take the full measure of social inequality, “feels like” economic opportunities matter: subjectivity, when considered as temporal and closely linked with material conditions of existence, helps us apprehend social constraints. By presenting three empirical case studies that encompass both qualitative and quantitative methods, the author not only elaborates on arguments in Bourdieu’s early and relatively unknown works but also demonstrates the importance of sense of security and insecurity as markers of class inequality. An original analysis of wealth that deepens and enriches the study of class inequality, Class and Time-Based Subjective Inequality highlights the relevance of a dynamic and absolute definition of subjective inequality for capturing marginalized positions. It will, therefore, appeal to scholars of sociology, economics, and politics with interests in social theory, contemporary inequalities, and social class. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Contents List of boxes List of figures List of tables Acknowledgments “Feels like” economic opportunities: How subjectivity reveals social inequality 1 The projective synthesis 2 A science of subjectivity 3 Subjective inequality in Bourdieu’s theory of time 4 A confiscated future for the working classes 5 Social classes amidst resurging wealth inequalities 6 Giving money, gaining power: Philanthropists striving for eternal legacy Conclusion: Framing subjectivity within context Index