Classes sociais e estilos de vida na sociedade brasileira

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the process of social class formation as social collectivities which shape social relations and lifestyles in the Brazilian society. We initially engage with the recent literature on social stratification and class analysis, in order to depict the main theoretical dilemmas which characterize that scientific field. Then, social agents' practices in different domains are examined in order to reveal the principles which might shape the probability of such practices (class, gender, age, etc.). We expect that class remain a central factor to explain the patterns shaping social agents' practices and the formation of lifestyles.

Social Classes in Brazil: Time, Trajectory and Immaterial Inheritance

“…However, there are some important variations within the fractions comprising the ‘service class’. Households headed by professionals and university professors spend an average of over 11 per cent of their budgets on culture and education annually; these figures for the ‘large’ entrepreneurs and upper managers (or directors) are, respectively: 7.4 per cent and 9.5 per cent (Bertoncelo, 2010). 14…”

“…Moreover, as modalities of ‘economic’ consumption are not included in the analysis, it is not possible to reveal the ways in which different capital structures affect distinction strategies. However, some of my previous research, based on a comparative analysis of self-reported expenditures of individuals and families from different occupational class positions, has shown that modes of class reproduction – inferred from their patterns of consumption – vary according to the composition of total volume of capital (Bertoncelo, 2010). 15…”

“…Previous research has provided evidence that gender relations vary according to class positions. Professional households are equipped in larger proportions than others with a dishwasher and spend a higher portion of the family budgets on domestic paid service (Bertoncelo, 2010). Indeed, in such households, women reported not being primarily responsible for domestic duties and caring to a larger extent, which tend to be performed by a domestic (female) worker.…”

“…It should also be noted that, given Brazil's economically stratified educational system, the accumulation and transmission of cultural capital are also highly dependent on the possession of economic capital. This partially explains why ‘middle-class’ households spend a relatively high proportion of their budgets on culture and education, especially households headed by professionals and university professors (Almeida, 2007; Bertoncelo, 2010). 18…”

Contemporâneo clássico: a recepção de Pierre Bourdieu no Brasil

“…Além disso, Souza dirige um programa de pesquisa inspirado em A miséria do mundo, centrado na análise das experiências vividas por indivíduos em situação de vulnerabilidade social (Souza, 2009), além de membros da classe trabalhadora (Souza, 2010). Em outra direção, Brasílio Sallum e alguns de seus alunos na USP têm explorado as propostas analí-ticas presentes em A distinção (Sallum, 2005;Pulici, 2010;Bertoncelo, 2010). O livro é referência, ainda, para uma série de pesquisas antropológicas focadas na questão da mídia e do consumo cultural (Almeida, 2003;Hamburger, 2005;Lima, 2008).…”