Final answer:
In 'The Judgment of Taste,' Bourdieu argues that food choices are influenced by social position and cultural capital. He concludes that taste is not inherent but acquired and is a signifier of social and economic status, leading to taste-driven discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
In The Judgment of Taste by Pierre Bourdieu, it is suggested that people select foods based on their social position and the cultural capital they possess. Bourdieu postulated that taste, including food preferences, is something that people acquire through their family and culture. His data collected in Paris showed that social class heavily influences one's taste, with assumptions indicating a system where certain foods and preferences are signifiers of one's social and economic status.
This led to the concept of taste-driven discrimination, where judgments are made about individuals based on their tastes, which in itself can be a reflection of their social status. Bourdieu's work often 'others' groups by differentiating between the tastes of the dominant class and those of the working class, implying a hierarchy of sophistication and refinement where the tastes of the upper class are deemed superior.
These observations highlight the idea that cultural practices, including eating habits, can reinforce social divisions and serve as markers of social distinction. Furthermore, it illuminates the role of taste both as a deeply personal attribute and as a socially conditioned phenomenon. The analysis of such choices, including the food people consume, raises questions about our own personal tastes and preferences and their socio-cultural underpinnings.