Glossary Flashcards
Agency
The capacity of individuals to act independently and to make their own free choices
Capitalism
An economic and political system in which property, business and industry (the means of production) are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.
Collective Conscience
A set of shared beliefs, attitudes, values and knowledge shared by all members of a group or society.
Cultural Capital
The possession of cultural characteristics valued by the ruling class that can give you advantages in life. This may include educational qualifications, but may also include your vocabulary, your knowledge of the arts.
Cultural Deprivation
Being deprived of the cultural attributes necessary for educational success. Cultural attributes may include basic literacy, attitudes and values.
Compensatory Education
Additional educational provision for disadvantaged children to give them a helping hand to compete on equal terms
Deterministic
Deterministic theories believe that individuals don’t have any choice about how they behave. Human behaviour is determined by social structures and circumstances.
Ethnicity
Groups within a population regarded by themselves (or by others) as culturally distinctive and different. Members of an ethnic group usually see themselves as having a common origin, and they may share some practices or beliefs, like religious beliefs.
Ethnocentric
Believing that the history, customs and traditions of your own race or nationality are superior to those of other races
Globalisation
The process of all parts of the world becoming interconnected, so that national boundaries become less important
Hidden Curriculum
The unwritten rules, values and behaviours that students are expected to conform to and learn while in school e.g. punctuality or respect for authority
Ideology
A set of beliefs that promotes the interests of one group at the expense of others
Institutional Racism
The failure of an organisation or institution to provide an effective service for people because of their colour or ethnicity. The organisation’s processes, attitudes and behaviours will discriminate - often unconsciously - through prejudice and racial stereotyping.
Labelling
When labels or names are attached to people, ascribing certain characteristics to those individuals. Labels are often simplified and draw upon stereotypes.
Legitimation
The process of justifying or gaining support for an idea or policy. It often involves justifying injustice or inequality, perhaps by portraying it as natural.
Marketisation
Organising state-run services (like the NHS or state education) more like private companies, competing for ‘customers’.
Material Deprivation
Refers to a lack of money or resources, preventing members of society from purchasing goods and services that other members of society can afford.
Meritocracy
A society or system in which success or failure is seen as the result of ability and hard work.
Patriarchy
A system or society in which men hold the power, and women are largely excluded from it. Women’s interests are subordinated to the interests of men.
Relativism
The idea that knowledge or truth can never be absolute and universal
Role Allocation
The process of deciding who does what role within a society
Self-concept
The sort of person you think you are
Self-fulfilling prophecy
When something happens because people expect it to happen. For example, if a child is labelled as ‘bad’, this alters their self-concept and they start thinking of themselves as ‘bad’ which means they may become ‘bad’ because that is what they think they are.
Socialisation
The process through which individuals learn the behaviour and culture accepted by their society in order to fit in
