Marxism Flashcards
Outline traditional marxist beliefs
Class conflict - 2 classes
Capitalist own means of production
Threatens stability if capitalism and revolution
Social institutions reproduce class inequalities
What was Althussers concept
Ideological state apparatus
What is the repressive state
Protects capitalist interests when necessary state uses force e.g. Police, army, courts
What is the ideological state apparatus
Controls peoples ideas, beliefs, values. Includes education
How does Althusser argue educations role is the ideological state apparatus
Reproduces class inequality - failing each w.c. affecting life chances ensuring in same jobs Legitimises class inequality - ideologies disguise true cause, inequality inevitable, failure fault of individual. Affects what they believe and how they respond
Who argues role of religion is to reproduce obedient work force
Bowles and Gintis
How does education produce obedient workforce
Capitalism needs obedient, submissive personalities, willing work hard, low pay and authority
Need reproduction, believe it is inevitable, achieve this successive generations need ideas firmly planted in minds - function education
Close correspondence between schools and workplace - ready to accept capitalism
What is the correspondence principle
Education mirrors that of work
What are the 5 ways education mirrors the workplace
Alienation Hierarchy Extrinsic satisfaction Fragmentation of knowledge Competition
How is alienation in school reflected in the workplace
School - pupils’ lack control over education
Work - workers’ lack control over production
How is hierarchy in school reflected in the workplace
Schools - head > teachers > pupils
Work - boss > supervisor > hierarchy
How is extrinsic satisfaction in school reflected in the workplace
School - rewards of qualifications rather than interest in subject
Work - reward of pay not satisfaction of job itself
How is fragmentation of knowledge in school reflected in the workplace
School - into unconnected subjects
Work - small, meaningless tasks
How is competition in school reflected in the workplace
Schools - divisions among pupils
Work - divisions among workers - differences in status and pay
Who researches into the hidden curriculum
Bowles and Gintis
What is the Hidden Curriculum
How correspondence principle operates - lessons learnt in school without directly being taught
Normal way to think
Who researched into Myth of Meritocracy
Bowles and Gintis
What is the purpose of myth of meritocracy
Idea although untrue designed to create particular way of thinking - justify inequality
Outline myth of meritocracy
Prevents recognising exploitation and rebelling. Produces ideologies explain why inequalities fair/inevitable
Who do functionalists say about myth of meritocracy
Education and work meritocratic everyone has equal opportunity to achieve
Those gain highest rewards deserve them as most able and hardworking
What do Bowles and Gintis say on myth of meritocracy
Reality based on class background. Promoting untrue idea rewards based on ability, helps persuade workers to accept inequality and subordination as legitimate
What do Bowles and Gintis say on Role Allocation
Rejection functionalist claim education allocates most talented meritocratically to most important/best rewarded roles
Research found most obedience conforming students rewarded not non-conformist or creative
Who researched into learning to labour
Willis
What concept of Bowles and Gintis does Willis reject
Correspondence principle
What sample did Willis use
Used qualitative methods study counter-school culture of ‘the lads’ 12 w.c. Boys as they made their transition school to work.
What was Willis’ Learning to Labour
Rather than passively accepting r.c. Myth of meritocracy may resist, partially seeing through ideology
Counter school culture lads formed oppose school flouting rules e.g. Smoking
Acts defiance way if resisting schools authority
How is shop floor culture similar to Willis’ Learning to Labour
Lads identify strongly with male manual work and see themselves as superior to girls and conformist pupils aspiring to non-manual jobs
Evaluation of Willis’ Leaning to Labour
Irony resisting schools ideology, guarantees they will fail, ensuring they end up in manual work capitalism needs someone to perform. Resistance ends up reproducing class inequality
Why do Marxists believe business and education mix
Recent educational policies UK make their role education more relevant
Marketisation policies e.g. Privatisation educational services, state sponsorships schools (academies) result more direct capitalist control.
Functions provide willing workforce for capitalism, whilst doing so increasingly making profits for capitalism
Positive evaluation of Marxism
Exposed myth of meritocracy
Shown how education serve interests capitalists
How do post modernists criticise marxists
Out of data, correspondence principle no longer operates - or at least very simplistic
Class divisions no longer important, economic system more diverse and fragmented
Where marx sees inequality, really diversity and choice
How do feminists criticise
School reproduces patriarchy
McRobbie: females absent Willis’ study
However willis’ research did lead to further research into gender
What do Marxists disagree with one another
How reproduction and legitimation took place.
Bowles and Gintis - deterministic, passively accept
Willis - pupils may resist but still end up in w.c. Jobs
Why is Willis criticised for being over romantic
Presented ‘the lads’ as heroes, despite being anti school and sexist attitudes
Sample 12 boys unrepresentative
