Gentrification, Class and Cultural Capital: Economic and Socio-Cultural Transformations in Peri-Central Neighborhoods of Santiago de Chile

Abstract

The socio-cultural descriptions of gentrification in Santiago have concentrated in the “new resident”, his/her lifestyles, and the associated cultural and commercial supply, but without approaching some explanatory variable. This article seeks to tackle the socio-cultural transformations of these neighborhoods, not only describing the symptoms of the observed symbolic struggles (cultural practices and consumption), but delving into its structuring factors. From a survey in four peri-central neighborhoods, a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) and an analysis of open responses, important differentiations in cultural preferences and tastes were observed, marked by variables like age and socioeconomic level, which emphasizes the role of cultural factors in the “displacement pressure”, within a process of gentrification.