Role Of Education In Society - Keywords Flashcards
What is the correspondence principle?
Bowles and Gintis’ concept describing the way that the organisation and control of schools mirrors ‘corresponds to’ the workplace in capitalist society. For example, the control teachers exert over pupils mirrors the control managers exert over workers./
What does function mean?
The contribution that a part of society makes to the stability or well-being of society as a whole.
For example,
according to Durkheim. one function of religion is to give individuals a sense of belonging to something greater than themselves and so integrate them into society.
What is functionalism?
A consensus perspective in sociology that sees society as based on shared values into which members are socialised. It sees society as like an organism, each part performing functions to maintain the system as a whole.
e.g. the family and education system perform socialisation functions.
What does curriculum mean?
Those things taught or learnt in educational institutions. The overt or official curriculum includes the subjects, courses etc offered
(e.g. The National Curriculum)
What is the hidden curriculum?
Includes all those things learnt without being formally taught and often acquired simply through the everyday workings of the school, such as attitudes of evidence, conformity and competitiveness
What is feminism?
A sociological perspective and political movement that focuses on women’s oppression and the struggle to end it.
Feminists argue that sociology traditionally takes a ‘malestream’ viewpoint that ignores women - they instead examine women’s experiences and study society from a female perspective.
What does identity mean?
The individual’s sense of self, influenced by socialisation and interactions with others; a sense of belonging to a community.
What does ideology mean?
Originally a Marxist idea meaning a set of beliefs that serve the interests of a dominant social group by justifying their privileged position.
The term usually implies that the beliefs are false or only partially true; e.g. Bowles and Gintis argue that meritocracy is a ‘myth’, i.e. untrue.
What is Marxism?
A conflict perspective based on the ideas of Karl Marx. It sees society as divided into two opposed classes, one of which exploits the labour of the other. In capitalist society, the bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat.
Marxist sociologists argue that institutions such as education and the media function to maintain capitalism.
What is meritocracy?
An educational or social system where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed and where individuals’ rewards and status are achieved by their own efforts rather than ascribed by their gender, class or ethnic group.
What is the myth of meritocracy?
Functionalists arque that the education system is meritocratic, but Bowles and Gintis claim that meritocracy is an ideology legitimating inequality by falsely claiming that everyone has equal opportunity and that unequal rewards are the ‘natural’ result of unequal ability.
What does patriarchy mean?
Rule by the father.
Feminists use the term to describe a society based on male domination; a system or ideology of male power over women. Child liberationists argue that children are victims of ‘age patriarchy’ - the domination of fathers, or adults generally.
What does proletariat mean?
the working class in capitalist society They own no means of production and are ‘wage slaves, forced to sell their labour-power to the bourgeoisie in order to survive.
What does reproduction mean?
The re-creation or continuation of something into future generations; e.g. Marxists argue that schooling reproduces the class structure by failing working-dass pupils so that they take working-class jobs.
What does sexism mean?
prejudice and discrimination on the grounds of sex; e.g. seeing girls as better suited for courses in ‘caring’ subjects.
