Cultural reproduction of being middle class: The case of the Denizli

In this study, the middle-class situation which is the most important focus of class discussions is discussed. Class discussions based on the objective existence of the class have gained new impetus with the change of production relations. Class and class position research, which is in need of interpretation from different perspectives, focuses on middle class layers. The attempt to uncover the sources on which the middle-class layers are based has given a different dimension to the perceptions of the class in the sense we know. These new perspectives, which focus on the forms of perception, that is, the forms of interpretation, have come to the agenda with their critiques of dichotomical approaches. These criticisms suggest that class positions cannot be reduced to the economy, except that there are classes and class practices apart from the two classes based on conflict. Bourdieu, who states that class position includes relationalism and class groups are class dimensions, emphasizes the conceptualization of economic, cultural, social and symbolic capital in order to make classes understandable. According to Bourdieu's constructivist class understanding, the volume, quality and transference of these types of capital determine the class position. Therefore, it proposes to focus on the extent to which capital types are realized. Based on Bourdieu, we discussed the class meaning of the practices in the daily lives of the individuals who live in Denizli and who have gained the status of middle class through the field study, which focuses on individuals who switch from labor to employing through social mobility. Our fieldwork, which we interpret by bringing together the participants' class backgrounds and daily life practices, presents an attempt to interpret the meaning of the class in today's societies.