AQA Sociology Education (A Level) Questions and
verified answers updated
Myth of meritocracy -Answer:-Bowles and Gintis argue role allocation isn't
based on merit, but social class, 'old school tie' network ensures top jobs go to
upper middle class, legitimates economic/class inequalities.
Willis: Learning to Labour -Answer:-used a combo. of qualitative
(ethnography) to study the counter culture of 12 working class boys 'the lads'.
Noted similarities between anti-school subculture of the lads and the
shopfloor culture of male manual workers, the lads saw manual work as
masculine and intellectual as feminine. Willis concluded this anti-school
subculture helped them to slot into working class jobs.
Criticisms of marxism -Answer:-Willis' sample size of 12 is too small, Neo-
Marxists say not all w/c pupils passively accept everything they're taught,
often resist discipline from school, Reynolds (1984) argues some subjects DO
encourage critical thinking i.e. sociology.
Correspondence principle -Answer:-school mirrors the workplace, in terms of
structure, hierarchy, organisation. This is because school prepares kids for
working in capitalist businesses.
Hidden curriculum marxism -Answer:-teach acceptance of hierarchy,
motivated by external rewards of exam success like how workers are
motivated by wages, work and education are fragmented or broken into small
pieces, so that workers/pupils have little overall understanding of
production/society, creates false class consciousness, conformist pupils
awarded higher grades.
, Feminist socialisation role -Answer:-schools socialise students into masculine
and feminine identities through verbal abuse, the male gaze and the way
teachers discipline pupils. they also socialise students, e.g. through peer
pressure, teacher bias. Feminists believe that some of the processes in schools
prevent females from achieving their full potential, argue that schools serve to
reproduce patriarchy and gender inequalities.
Feminist hidden curriculum -Answer:-Stanworth (1983) found that education
did this: males are more important than females, boys cleverer than girls, boys
careers' are more important then girls, senior positions in education are
disproportionately held by men.
Feminist role allocation -Answer:-not based on meritocracy, but gender, point
to the 'glass ceiling' prevents many women occupying senior occupational
positions, girl n boy subject choices at school leads to being allocated in
gender stereotyped jobs.
Criticisms of feminism -Answer:-tend to disregard the way in which education
system disadvantages males, clear evidence girls do better than males in
education due to many education policies favouring girls e.g. GIST/WISE and
marketization.
Material deprivation -Answer:-Lacking basic necessities due to poverty.
Cultural deprivation -Answer:-Inadequate socialisation in the home.
Material deprivation's effects on education -Answer:-90% of failing schools
are in deprived areas. Dpt of Education (2012) barely 1/3 of students eligible
for free school meals achieve 5 or more GCSE's at A*-C. These students are
more likely to be excluded and truant.
verified answers updated
Myth of meritocracy -Answer:-Bowles and Gintis argue role allocation isn't
based on merit, but social class, 'old school tie' network ensures top jobs go to
upper middle class, legitimates economic/class inequalities.
Willis: Learning to Labour -Answer:-used a combo. of qualitative
(ethnography) to study the counter culture of 12 working class boys 'the lads'.
Noted similarities between anti-school subculture of the lads and the
shopfloor culture of male manual workers, the lads saw manual work as
masculine and intellectual as feminine. Willis concluded this anti-school
subculture helped them to slot into working class jobs.
Criticisms of marxism -Answer:-Willis' sample size of 12 is too small, Neo-
Marxists say not all w/c pupils passively accept everything they're taught,
often resist discipline from school, Reynolds (1984) argues some subjects DO
encourage critical thinking i.e. sociology.
Correspondence principle -Answer:-school mirrors the workplace, in terms of
structure, hierarchy, organisation. This is because school prepares kids for
working in capitalist businesses.
Hidden curriculum marxism -Answer:-teach acceptance of hierarchy,
motivated by external rewards of exam success like how workers are
motivated by wages, work and education are fragmented or broken into small
pieces, so that workers/pupils have little overall understanding of
production/society, creates false class consciousness, conformist pupils
awarded higher grades.
, Feminist socialisation role -Answer:-schools socialise students into masculine
and feminine identities through verbal abuse, the male gaze and the way
teachers discipline pupils. they also socialise students, e.g. through peer
pressure, teacher bias. Feminists believe that some of the processes in schools
prevent females from achieving their full potential, argue that schools serve to
reproduce patriarchy and gender inequalities.
Feminist hidden curriculum -Answer:-Stanworth (1983) found that education
did this: males are more important than females, boys cleverer than girls, boys
careers' are more important then girls, senior positions in education are
disproportionately held by men.
Feminist role allocation -Answer:-not based on meritocracy, but gender, point
to the 'glass ceiling' prevents many women occupying senior occupational
positions, girl n boy subject choices at school leads to being allocated in
gender stereotyped jobs.
Criticisms of feminism -Answer:-tend to disregard the way in which education
system disadvantages males, clear evidence girls do better than males in
education due to many education policies favouring girls e.g. GIST/WISE and
marketization.
Material deprivation -Answer:-Lacking basic necessities due to poverty.
Cultural deprivation -Answer:-Inadequate socialisation in the home.
Material deprivation's effects on education -Answer:-90% of failing schools
are in deprived areas. Dpt of Education (2012) barely 1/3 of students eligible
for free school meals achieve 5 or more GCSE's at A*-C. These students are
more likely to be excluded and truant.
