ABSTRACT
Pierre Bourdieu is uniquely qualified to cast a discerning light on the nature of oppression in modern society. This chapter explores Bourdieu’s theory of agency and structure and his articulation of the mediating concepts of habitus, field, capital, doxa and symbolic violence. It discusses the importance of professional reflexivity as defined by Bourdieu and considers how his lead ideas can inform culturally sensitive social work practice and empowerment interventions. Bourdieu’s third concept of field symbolises the social and institutional arenas or networks in which actors are socially positioned. There are various types of field: social, cultural, educational, religious, artistic, economic, political and intellectual. Bourdieu stressed the vital necessity of reflexivity in the social sciences but applied the concept mainly to the higher education field. From a Bourdieusian perspective, empathy develops an accurate understanding of another person’s cultural experience, emotions, cognitions and behaviours, and the doxa shaping them.
