Ideology and socialisation Flashcards
Marxism and Socialisation. Comment.
Marxists argue that socialisation is an ideological process which has the aim of transmitting ruling class ideas that society is in fact meritocratic (fair) and that if you work hard you can be successful – which is generally not possible. This ideological device brainwashes people into believing that their social position is as a result of their efforts and that is the position that they deserve.
Marxism and Capitalist Ideology
Marxists argue that capitalist ideology shapes the way of life of a society – its culture. The use of the agents of socialisation, such as the media, reinforce and legitimate this ideology, such as that we should buy material goods as these are seen as ‘making us happy
What does Marcuse comment about Marxism and the Capitalist Ideology?
Date
Marcuse (1964) calls these ‘false needs’ as we don’t need these material goods, but just want them, however we are told that we need them through advertising. In addition, entertainment, such as soaps deflect the attention of exploitation away from the working class and re-directs their attention to the issues within this programme, thus creating a ‘false class consciousness’ (being unaware of our ‘real’ identity as oppressed and oppressed workers). This maintains class inequality. Marxists believe that in time due to the polarisation between the classes and by the continual driving down of wages due to the competition within capitalism the workers (working class) will realise their exploited class position leading to ‘class consciousness’ of its own political and economic interests and will rebel against the capitalist system.
What is a False Class Consciousness?
being unaware of our ‘real’ identity as oppressed and oppressed workers
Comment on the notion of False Class Consciousness
The notion of ‘false class consciousness’ has been undermined. We are aware of the social injustices in society, but we just feel that we cannot change them practically to bring about more equality.
How do Neo-Marxists evaluate traditional Marxism?
Neo-Marxists evaluate traditional Marxism by arguing that not all working class are passively indoctrinated into the dominant ideology and some can demonstrate a resistance by rebelling through CREATING OPPOSITIONAL subcultures, such as skinheads etc.
What did Paul Willis study investigate?
Date
Paul Willis’s (1977) study into ‘The Lads’ in a school demonstrated they rejected the dominant ideology in schools and created a counter school subculture, containing many values that were oppositional to that taught by the school.
3. Radical Feminists believe that socialisation of the dominant ideology can be a form of indoctrination, but this an indoctrination into patriarchal ideology rather than capitalist ideology.
1977
