The Logic of Dairy Farming: Using Bourdieu's Social Theory of Practice to Investigate Farming Families' Perspective. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Glover, Jane
• Is Part Of: International journal of rural management. Volume 11:Number 2(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 130
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Bourdieu -- field -- family farming -- game playing -- power; Rural development -- Management -- Periodicals; Rural development projects -- Periodicals; 307.1412
• DOI: 10.1177/0973005215600844
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0973-0052

Abstract

This exploratory study investigates dairy farming from a sociological perspective by applying Bourdieu's social theory of practice. The article uses qualitative methods; interviewing farming families to investigate their perceptions of the practice of dairy farming in the United Kingdom (UK). The results indicate that the choice to exit, or enter, the field is not an easy one, and once in the field, farmers cannot necessarily play the game, as envisaged with constraining factors preventing them from furthering their position in the field. The practice of dairy farming is also bound in farming families' social and cultural heritage, which is being challenged by powerful players in the field.