Marxism Flashcards
What is the Marxist view?
They see all of societies institutions as helping to maintain class inequality and capitalism
Why are Marxists critical of the education system?
They see it as functioning purely to keep capitalism going
Who are the bourgeoisie?
What do they do?
The ruling class
Exploit working class to make as much profit as they can
Who are the proletariat?
What happens to them?
The working class
Their labour is exploited by the ruling class
What is the myth of meritocracy?
The idea that meritocracy doesn’t exist
Believe meritocracy convinces people that everyone has equal opportunity to succeed, so when they don’t they blame themselves, not the system
What do Marxists believe about the hidden curriculum?
Helps to persuade societies future citizens to accept the dominant ideology and their position in society based on inequality, exploitation, and conflict
How do Marxists believe that education serves the needs of capitalism?
By socialising young people into the norms and values of the ruling class, leading to an obedient workforce and the stability of capitalism
How do Marxists believe that education legitimises class inequality?
Persuades working class to accept their position in society.
Working class believe they have bad jobs due to personal reasons m, when in reality they don’t have the same opportunities as the middle class
What does capitalism require?
What is the education systems role in this?
A workforce with the behaviour/attitudes suited to their role as exploited workers
System produces obedient workforce that will accept inequality as inevitable
What do Bowles and Gintis conclude about schools reward?
Conclude schools reward the kind of personality traits that make for submissive and compliant workers
What is the correspondence principle?
The idea that there are close parallels between school and work in a capitalist society
Give some examples of the correspondence principle
Both school and work have hierarchies
Bosses/ headteachers, workers/students
Both have completions and divisions
Both have alienation through lack of control of what they do / how they do it
How does the education system justify poverty?
It blames poverty on the individual, rather than blaming capitalism
What are the ruling class aware of?
That the working class may revolt if they overcome their false consciousness
What are RSA’s?
(Althusser)
Repressive state apparatus
