Social Class and Identity 1. The working class are associated mainly with the labour party and trade unions
Heather Dennis 12AI
Mrs Young 28th December 2005
Revision of the work by Bowles and Gintis and Paul Willis.
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(Key Term unsure of: Eclectic)
- Legitimation is conforming to the laws and rules of society.
- Wearing uniform is an example of the correspondence principle. Students in school must wear uniform in preparation for the workplace, as some professions require you to wear a particular uniform. Similarly, schools exclude children that badly misbehave or who are not punctual and workplaces fire people who misbehave or break the rules. Therefore school is preparing you for the workplace.
- Meritocracy teaches that rewards and success come to those who work hard and conform to society. Sociologists Bowels and Gintis believe that this is a myth. They disagree that our education system is run like this. They believe that high grades and success are achieved on a basis of class, gender and culture.
- There are three ways in which schools act as agencies of socialisation. Firstly is skills provision. This is that education teaches the skills required by a modern industrial society. The second is role allocation. This is that education allocates people to the most appropriate job for their talents using examinations and qualifications. Third is socialisation. This is that education helps to maintain society by socialising young people into key cultural values, for example, achievement and individualism.