CRITICISM: HARGREAVES (1982) BOURDIEU – FORMAL CURRICULA FEMINIST VIEW OF EDUCATION
David Hargreaves (1982) argues that education Members of the upper and middle classes Feminists view gender norms as socially
promotes competition and individualism and not generally have more cultural capital than constructed rather than biological and
shared values. families of lower class status. Because of this, patriarchy as the main cause of gender
the dominant culture’s values seem to always inequality. Therefore, education is a tool
CRITICISM: DIVISIONS
be rewarded in the educational system. that perpetuates and encourages gender
According to Durkheim, education promotes Teaching and tests are generally geared inequality.
social solidarity. However, education can also be towards the dominant culture. Other students
divisive because of the hierarchy of schools and can struggle to identify with values outside of LIBERAL FEMINISTS
universities, which can separate social classes. their social class.
Liberal feminists believe that nobody
CRITICISM: OTHER FACTORS SOCIAL CLASS REPRODUCTION – HIDDEN benefits from gender inequality but that the
CURRICULUM education system socialises young people
Functionalism argues that educational into gender roles. They believe that changes
achievement is based on merit (meritocracy), The cycle of rewarding those with cultural should take place within existing structures,
yet research indicates that factors such as capital is found in the hidden curriculum, which such as changes in the law.
class, gender, and ethnicity also influence is the type of non-academic knowledge that
achievement. someone learns through informal learning and RADICAL FEMINISTS
the passing on of culture. Marxism says that
TRUE MERITOCRACY? Radical feminists see society as rules by
this hidden curriculum reinforces the positions
men (a patriarchy) who view women as
Functionalists Davis and Moore argue that of those with higher cultural capital. It also
subject to their laws and social norms. They
education selects the most appropriate people reinforces unequal status.
view education as a tool that perpetuates
to do particular jobs, yet other factors aside SETTING/STREAMING these differences through the enforcement
from qualifications, such as social contacts (who of strict, inflexible gender roles. Some
you know) also influence the labour market. Marxists say that streaming and setting, where radical feminists believe in the superiority of
students are sorted into classes by ability, women, espousing an overthrow of the
MARXIST THEORIES ON EDUCATION make inequalities worse. Although teachers current system.
may argue that students do better in these
Marxists believe that the educational system MARXIST FEMINISTS
classes because they are with students of
reinforces social inequalities arising from
similar ability and get more individual attention
differences in class, gender, race, and ethnicity. Marxist feminists see capitalism as the main
from teachers, Marxists think that streaming
Marxist theorists view education more source of female oppression, not patriarchy;
and setting lead to self-fulfilling prophecies.
negatively than functionalists. the purpose of the education system is to
These happen when students live up or down to
create an obedient and compliant workforce
BOURDIEU the teacher’s and societal expectations
where women are seen as free labour
(Education Week 2004).
French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu studied social (caring for men, raising a family and helping
class reproduction. He researched how cultural TRAINING to produce a future workforce that serves
capital (cultural knowledge that helps someone capitalism). Gender equality is through
navigate culture) affects the opportunities To Marxists, schools play the role f training about by revolution as part of a wider
available to French students from different working class students accept and retain their economic redistribution of wealth.
social classes. position as lower members of society. Marxists
argue that this role is fulfilled by students from
wealthier areas accessing better or more
David Hargreaves (1982) argues that education Members of the upper and middle classes Feminists view gender norms as socially
promotes competition and individualism and not generally have more cultural capital than constructed rather than biological and
shared values. families of lower class status. Because of this, patriarchy as the main cause of gender
the dominant culture’s values seem to always inequality. Therefore, education is a tool
CRITICISM: DIVISIONS
be rewarded in the educational system. that perpetuates and encourages gender
According to Durkheim, education promotes Teaching and tests are generally geared inequality.
social solidarity. However, education can also be towards the dominant culture. Other students
divisive because of the hierarchy of schools and can struggle to identify with values outside of LIBERAL FEMINISTS
universities, which can separate social classes. their social class.
Liberal feminists believe that nobody
CRITICISM: OTHER FACTORS SOCIAL CLASS REPRODUCTION – HIDDEN benefits from gender inequality but that the
CURRICULUM education system socialises young people
Functionalism argues that educational into gender roles. They believe that changes
achievement is based on merit (meritocracy), The cycle of rewarding those with cultural should take place within existing structures,
yet research indicates that factors such as capital is found in the hidden curriculum, which such as changes in the law.
class, gender, and ethnicity also influence is the type of non-academic knowledge that
achievement. someone learns through informal learning and RADICAL FEMINISTS
the passing on of culture. Marxism says that
TRUE MERITOCRACY? Radical feminists see society as rules by
this hidden curriculum reinforces the positions
men (a patriarchy) who view women as
Functionalists Davis and Moore argue that of those with higher cultural capital. It also
subject to their laws and social norms. They
education selects the most appropriate people reinforces unequal status.
view education as a tool that perpetuates
to do particular jobs, yet other factors aside SETTING/STREAMING these differences through the enforcement
from qualifications, such as social contacts (who of strict, inflexible gender roles. Some
you know) also influence the labour market. Marxists say that streaming and setting, where radical feminists believe in the superiority of
students are sorted into classes by ability, women, espousing an overthrow of the
MARXIST THEORIES ON EDUCATION make inequalities worse. Although teachers current system.
may argue that students do better in these
Marxists believe that the educational system MARXIST FEMINISTS
classes because they are with students of
reinforces social inequalities arising from
similar ability and get more individual attention
differences in class, gender, race, and ethnicity. Marxist feminists see capitalism as the main
from teachers, Marxists think that streaming
Marxist theorists view education more source of female oppression, not patriarchy;
and setting lead to self-fulfilling prophecies.
negatively than functionalists. the purpose of the education system is to
These happen when students live up or down to
create an obedient and compliant workforce
BOURDIEU the teacher’s and societal expectations
where women are seen as free labour
(Education Week 2004).
French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu studied social (caring for men, raising a family and helping
class reproduction. He researched how cultural TRAINING to produce a future workforce that serves
capital (cultural knowledge that helps someone capitalism). Gender equality is through
navigate culture) affects the opportunities To Marxists, schools play the role f training about by revolution as part of a wider
available to French students from different working class students accept and retain their economic redistribution of wealth.
social classes. position as lower members of society. Marxists
argue that this role is fulfilled by students from
wealthier areas accessing better or more
