Marxists Views of Education Flashcards
How does education reproduce class inequality according to Althusser?
By passing the ruling class ideas and values to each generation of the subject class keeping them in a state of false class consciousness
How does education legitimise class inequality according to Althusser?
By persuading the subject class their exploitation is inevitable meaning the SC are less likely to challenge capitalism
What do Bowles and Gintis argue the main role of education in a capitalist society is?
To reproduce an obedient, passive, and hard-working worker who accepts their position without question
How does education reproduce these types of workers according to Bowles and Gintis?
Through the correspondence principle where school mirrors the workplace
How does school mirror the workplace according to Bowles and Gintis?
They reward the same behaviour and personality characteristics that are valued by capitalism
Give examples of how school mirrors the workplace
Uniform - expected to wear a uniform at school and follow certain rules surrounding it
Hierarchies - school teaches us that teachers and other staff are above us in hierarchy and you are expected to do what they ask of you which mirrors the workplace
Timetables - teaches us to be on time and we are expected to follow our timetable and be punctual
What is the hidden curriculum according to Bowles and Gintis?
The message pupils learn at school without being formally taught
What is meritocracy?
Where something is fair and everyone has an equal chance of success
Why do Bowles and Gintis think meritocracy is a myth?
Because achievement is determined by a students social class background not their ability
Why do the myth of meritocracy help keep the subject class in a false class consciousness?
Because schools want the working-class students to think education is fair and meritocratic so they don’t challenge capitalism
Why does the myth of meritocracy reproduce social class inequality?
The middle class succeed in school and go on to get the high status jobs which is passed on when they have children
Why does the myth of meritocracy legitimise social class inequality?
It implies that it is the students’ fault for not succeeding in school and they therefore don’t get the high-status jobs
Why does the myth of meritocracy benefit capitalism?
The subject class remain in false class consciousness and therefore don’t try to overthrow the ruling class/capitalism
What did the lads reject?
Education
Why are the values of education opposed by the lads?
Because they resent authority and hierarchy and believe that the teachers have no authority to be telling them what to do
Why is it important that the lads completely reject the idea of qualifications?
Because they think that it is possible to get on without qualifications because what really matters is knowing a bit about the world
Why does Willis criticise Bowles and Gintis’s view of education?
He believes that education isn’t fair and their success isn’t determined by their effort but by their social class
Why does Willis agree with Bowles and Gintis?
Because their rejection of school and qualifications prepared them for working-class jobs
What is habitus?
The cultural framework and set of ideas which influence tastes and choices
What is the habitus of education?
Middle class cultural framework that is imposed by the middle class that puts them at an advantage
What does Bourdieu argue symbolic capital allow the middle class to do?
Allows them to succeed in school
How does Bourdieu argue symbolic violence affect the working class?
Leads to their underachievement
Lower paid jobs
No university
Why does education have a middle class habitus?
The education system is run by middle-class people
What is symbolic capital?
Where middle-class students gain status and recognition from having learnt middle-class habitus from primary socialisation
What is symbolic violence?
Where working-class habitus is deemed worthless and their culture is devalued and therefore are forced to learn middle-class knowledge and values
Why does habitus reproduce social class inequality?
Because the middle class start school at and advantage and therefore have a better chance at success and getting qualifications
Why does habitus legitimise social class inequality?
Because the working class are made to feel uncomfortable and out-of-place so they don’t apply to universities so they stay in low paid, low-status jobs
What do feminists argue Marxists focus too much on?
Argue they focus too much on class and ignore how education reproduces gender inequality due to patriarchy
Why do postmodernists argue Marxism is out of date?
Education no longer produced mindless, passive worker but students with a diverse range of skills
What do functionalists argue about education?
That is it meritocratic and that schools teach the values of society as a whole not just capitalism
