Evaluating Parsons

What do Marxists argue about the functionalist view of education?

The idea of role allocation and sifting and sorting is ideological, creating the illusion of meritocracy

What is the myth of meritocracy according to Marxists?

success is based purely on hard work and talent while in reality it disguises how privilege and social class actually determine success

How does the myth of meritocracy benefit the ruling class?

Persuades the proletariat to believe that the wealthy earned their positions through hard work and natural ability making inequality seem fair and just

What role does education play in maintaining class inequality, according to Marxists?

Education reproduces class inequalities across generations, convincing the working class that the system is fair, which maintains status quo

What is false class consciousness?

The mistaken belief that the social system is fair, which prevents the working class from recognising their opression

How do Bowles and Gintis challenge the idea of meritocracy in education?

Found that IQ has a minor role in academic success, and even when individuals succeed academically, social class, ethnicity and gender still influence economic success

What does the study by Bowles and Gintis suggest about the link between education and economic success?

That educational achievement doesn’t translate into economic success, as social factors outweigh merit