Davis and Moore

All notes taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd4Hky3PUSU&t=184s

What is role allocation?

• Society requires a skilled workforce that is fully qualified

• Certain roles require certain aptitudes

• Education prepares students for these roles based on their ability

How does education do role allocation?

• ‘Sifts and sorts’ students based on ability

• Promotes ideas of social mobility and meritocracy

• Most able pupils end up in higher positions in society

• Lower ability end up in low-skilled positions

What are the contemporary applications of role allocation?

• Setting and streaming

• University entrance

• Subject choice- Vocational and academic routes

• Wage inequality

What are the criticisms of role allocation?

• Marxists: Meritocracy is a myth-making machine

• Feminists: Gender pay gap- feminine professions paid less

• ‘Old school tie’ network

• Privately-educated students more advanced