Sociological Theories

What is the functionalist view of education?

Education benefits society by creating social solidarity, teaching skills and preparing individuals for work.

What does Durkheim argue about education?

Education creates social solidarity by teaching shared norms and values, helping individuals feel part of society. It also teaches the specialist skills needed for specialised economic roles, and teaches individuals to cooperate with each other in modern industrial societies.

What does Parsons argue about education?

School is a bridge between the family and wider society. It moves children from the particularistic standards of the family to the universalistic standards of wider society, and it teaches universal values and meritocracy.

What are particularistic and universalistic standards?

Particularistic standards apply only within families, where children are judged differently based on love and personal relationships. Universalistic standards apply equally to everyone, with achievement judged by the same rules.

What is meritocracy?

The belief that people gain rewards and positions through talent, ability and effort.

What do Davis and Moore argue about education?

Education allocates the most talented people to the most important jobs through role allocation (sorting individuals into jobs by ability and achievement). Inequality is necessary because higher rewards motivate talented people to train for the most important positions.

What is the New Right view of education?

Education should operate like a market. State education is inefficient because schools do not have to compete for pupils. The solution is marketisation: introducing competition and consumer choice into education, through policies such as league tables and parental choice.

What is a criticism of functionalism?

Marxists argue education does not benefit everyone equally and mainly serves the interests of capitalism.

What is the Marxist view of education?

Education reproduces class inequality and serves the interests of capitalism.

What does Althusser argue about education?

Education is an ideological state apparatus: an institution (like education and the media) that spreads ideas supporting capitalism and transmits ruling-class ideology.

What is Bowles and Gintis' correspondence principle?

School mirrors the workplace, preparing pupils for obedience and hierarchy in employment. Pupils obey teachers like workers obey managers and are motivated by external rewards.

What is the hidden curriculum, and what does it teach?

The unofficial lessons taught in school, such as obedience, punctuality and acceptance of hierarchy. It teaches pupils to accept authority, competition and inequality, preparing them for capitalist work.

What is the myth of meritocracy?

The belief that success comes from ability and effort, when in fact class inequality shapes achievement.

What did Willis find in Learning to Labour?

Working-class boys ('the lads') rejected school values but were still prepared for working-class jobs. This showed pupils are not passive and can resist school values, although this still reproduced inequality.

What is a criticism of Marxism?

Functionalists argue education is based on merit and benefits society rather than only capitalism.

What is the feminist view of education?

Education reflects patriarchy and reproduces gender inequality. Schools reinforce traditional gender roles through subject choice, stereotypes, teacher expectations and a gendered hidden curriculum that teaches girls and boys different expectations about behaviour and future roles.

What did Sharpe find about girls' aspirations?

Girls became more career-focused and ambitious over time due to social changes and feminism.

What is the liberal feminist theory of education?

Education has become more equal over time through policies challenging discrimination.

What is the radical feminist theory of education?

The education system remains patriarchal and continues to disadvantage women.

What is the interactionist view of education?

Interactionists focus on everyday classroom interactions and how teacher labelling affects achievement.

What is the postmodernist view of education?

Education is becoming more diverse, fragmented and shaped by consumer choice. Individuals have more choice to shape their identities and educational pathways.