Abstract
The aim of this article is to reflect on the use of the concept of cultural capital in explaining contemporary school inequalities. Starting from two recent reviews of the use of the concept among English-speaking researchers and in the francophone sociological literature, the article seeks to answer the following questions: is the possession of cultural wealth still a decisive asset for achieving school success? To what extent does that still occur after decades of deep social and educational changes? Our analysis showed that: (i) established cultural practices are now less profitable and less transferable than in the past; (ii) parents’ financial investments have increasingly emerged as a driving force for their children’s school success.
SOCIAL INEQUALITY; CULTURAL HERITAGE; EDUCATION INEQUALITY; ACHIEVEMENT