diff --git a/lib/rspec/core.rb b/lib/rspec/core.rb
index 087e0713f7..126f17e06c 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core.rb
@@ -129,37 +129,10 @@ def self.current_example=(example)
     RSpec::Support.thread_local_data[:current_example] = example
   end
 
-  class ScopeSymbol
-    # @api private
-    EXAMPLE_CONTEXT = [:before_each_hook, :example, :after_each_hook]
-
-    # @api private
-    # Used whenever you set RSpec.current_scope = :something
-    def self.wrap(thing)
-      thing.is_a?(self) ? thing : new(thing)
-    end
-
-    # @private
-    def initialize(sym)
-      raise ArgumentError, "I only wrap symbols" unless sym.is_a?(Symbol) || sym.nil?
-      @sym = sym
-    end
-
-    # Allows comparisons w/ real symbols
-    def ==(other)
-      @sym == other
-    end
-
-    # Find out whether you're in the execution context of a single example (either before, during or after)
-    def in_example_context?
-      EXAMPLE_CONTEXT.include?(@sym)
-    end
-  end
-
   # Set the current scope rspec is executing in
   # @api private
   def self.current_scope=(scope)
-    RSpec::Support.thread_local_data[:current_scope] = ScopeSymbol.wrap(scope)
+    RSpec::Support.thread_local_data[:current_scope] = scope
   end
   RSpec.current_scope = :suite
 
@@ -173,7 +146,7 @@ def self.current_scope=(scope)
   # Returns `:example` inside it/example blocks
   #
   # Returns `nil` after your suite and all hooks are done
-  # @return [ScopeSymbol/Nil]
+  # @return [Symbol/Nil]
   def self.current_scope
     RSpec::Support.thread_local_data[:current_scope]
   end
diff --git a/spec/rspec/core_spec.rb b/spec/rspec/core_spec.rb
index 91a1e3e117..8d01a03b50 100644
--- a/spec/rspec/core_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rspec/core_spec.rb
@@ -134,58 +134,44 @@
       raise "bad current scope: #{RSpec.current_scope.inspect}"
     end
 
-    if RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?
-      raise "this is not an example context"
-    end
-
     RSpec.configure do |c|
       c.before :suite do
         expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_suite_hook)
-        expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(false)
       end
 
       c.before :all do
         expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_all_hook)
-        expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(false)
       end
 
       c.before :each do
         expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_each_hook)
-        expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(true)
       end
 
       c.around :each do |ex|
         expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_each_hook)
-        expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(true)
         ex.run
-        expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(true)
         expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_each_hook)
       end
 
       c.after :each do
         expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_each_hook)
-        expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(true)
       end
 
       c.after :all do
         expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_all_hook)
-        expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(false)
       end
 
       c.after :suite do
         expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_suite_hook)
-        expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(false)
       end
     end
 
     before :all do
-      expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(false)
       expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_all_hook)
     end
 
     before :each do
       expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_each_hook)
-      expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(true)
     end
 
     around :each do |ex|
@@ -195,23 +181,19 @@
     end
 
     after :each do
-      expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(true)
       expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_each_hook)
     end
 
     after :all do
       expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_all_hook)
-      expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(false)
     end
 
     it "returns :example inside an example" do
       expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:example)
-      expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(true)
     end
 
     it "works for more than one example in a describe block" do
       expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:example)
-      expect(RSpec.current_scope.in_example_context?).to eq(true)
     end
   end