Habitus vs Habitat; Why Are Many People Afraid to Chase Their Dreams?

 JOICE FITRIA AZKA (30802300028)

Figure. 1. Diagram of the relationship between habitat and habitus.

Source: Habitus in Systemic Perspective. ResearchGate. 2024.

A person's success should be measured by their talent and passion, not by the judgment of society that considers certain jobs, like being a civil servant, to be more prestigious. If we observe closely, many people around us still evaluate success based on the type of work someone does. For example, being a civil servant is considered impressive, stable, and respectable. But working as a writer, artist, or designer is often seen as "unclear" or "lacking a future." In fact, everyone has different interests and life paths. According to Pierre Bourdieu, the theory of habitus and habitat can help us understand this. Habitat is like the social environment that shapes the way people think, while habitus refers to the habits, values, and ways a person views the world based on their personal experiences (Bourdieu). So, it is understandable if someone lives in an environment that idolizes civil servant jobs, yet they are more interested in the world of writing.

If everyone followed the views of their surroundings, the world would lack creative people. Imagine if everyone wanted to become a civil servant; then who would write books, make films, create songs, or design the clothes we wear? Logically, everyone has their own habitus or tendencies that can lead them to different life paths. For example, a writer who truly has talent and interest in literature would be happier making a living from their work than being forced to work in a field they dislike just for the sake of status.

Imagine someone who has loved writing stories since childhood. But every time they talk about their dreams, their family or neighbors say, 'Why become a writer? Life will be hard. Just become a civil servant to be safe.' Eventually, they give up and choose a job they do not actually love. Every day they work without enthusiasm, just to meet other people’s expectations. Living like that must feel heavy. Everyone has the right to have the opportunity to follow their own path in life, not live to meet societal standards.

Renowned sociologist Pierre Bourdieu also explained that humans are not only the result of their environment but also have the ability to determine the direction of their own lives (Bourdieu). Many successful people prove this. For example, Andrea Hirata, who dared to write Laskar Pelangi even though initially many underestimated him. He succeeded because he dared to follow his habitus, not because he followed the pressures of his habitat. Likewise, Raditya Dika was often considered odd because he wrote humorous blogs about everyday life. But it was through his writing that his career blossomed into a successful author, director, and comedian. Both succeeded because they dared to follow their habits, not because they yielded to the pressures of their environment.

Success is not about having a job that appears “certain” or “stable” in the eyes of society, but about how a person can live according to themselves. The environment indeed has a significant influence, but that does not mean we must submit to that view. If we have a strong habitus, we can create our own version of a successful path. So, don’t be afraid to be different. True success comes from the courage to follow your passion, not from following the voice of others.