Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Marxist explanations on the roles and functions of the education system -…
Marxist explanations on the roles and functions of the education system
Ideological state apparatuses - Althusser
marxists believe education is simply another way for the ruling classes to maintain their dominant position
Althusser believes that the state consists of 2 elements ('apparatuses'), both serve to keep the bourgeoisie in power
the repressive state apparatus
: maintains the bourgeoisies dominance by using force or the threat of it.
the ideological state apparatuses
: maintains the bourgeoisies dominance through controlling peoples ideas and values (media and the education system)
Althusser believes that the education system performs 2 functions
education reproduces class inequality by transmitting it from generation to generation, by failing each successive generation of working-class pupils in turn
education legitimates class inequality by producing ideologies that disguise its true cause. Persuades workers that inequality is inevitable and they deserve and should accept their subordinate position
Reproduction of social class inequality
the education system reproduces social class inequality as it justifies why the working class and lower-income pupils achieve less than their upper class counterparts
it creates a false sense of security with the idea of meritocracy and making people think they can achieve whatever they set out to because they work hard
in some industries it is more about nepotism rather than meritocracy
Legitimation of social class inequality - Bowles and Gintis
because a capitalist society relies on inequality, there is always a danger that the poor will feel this inequality is unfair and undeserved, therefore rebelling against the system
the education system prevents rebellion as it legitimises class inequalities by producing ideologies that serve to explain and justify why inequality is natural and inevitable
Bowles and Gintis call the education system a 'giant myth-making machine' as it promotes the 'myth of meritocracy'
'meritocracy' means that everyone has an equal opportunity of succeeding as long as they work hard.
they argue that meritocracy doesn't actually exist and that success is actually based on home income and class background
the idea of meritocracy makes it seem that the higher classes got where they are through hard work, therefore familiarising themselves with the low-income pupils and workers