Sociology topic 2 - secondary socialisation

What is the hidden curriculum?

Lessons learned at school but not part of the formal curriculum, such as norms, values, and beliefs. (Durkheim)

What is meritocracy in education?

Jobs and pay are allocated based on a person's skill and talent rather than their social status. (Davis and Moore)

Who connects meritocracy and role allocation?

Parsons

What is role allocation?

The sifting and sorting of people into roles they will go on to perform in life.

How do Marxists view the hidden curriculum?

They agree it exists but argue it teaches the values of the ruling class (Bowles & Gintis).

What do Bowles and Gintis call the education system?

A ‘giant myth-making machine’.

What did the Sutton Trust’s 2019 study find?

People in top jobs are 5x more likely to have gone to private school and many attended Oxbridge

What proportion of MPs went to private school in 2005?

1/3

What did Valerie Hey find about peer groups?

Girls form cliques, and class affects peer group behavior and expectations.

What did Elizabeth Poole conclude about media influence?

Multicultural peer groups were more critical of Islamophobic media; others accepted it as truth.

What does Turkle argue in "Alone Together"?

Technology is isolating us socially.

What is a criticism of Turkle’s theory?

Fails to acknowledge how social media can connect people across distances or minority communities.

What does Natasha Walter argue about social media?

::It creates a hyper-sexual culture, especially affecting girls (Living Dolls).

What is Hakim’s response to Walter?

She argues women are exercising sexual freedom and should use their sexuality to their advantage (post-feminist view).

What did Tony Sewell argue about mass media?

::Rap culture promotes hyper-masculinity and materialism, especially in African-Caribbean youth.

What does Hyak say about rap’s influence?

::Rap is now mainstream and influences all ethnic groups, not just African-Caribbean youth.

What effect does religion have on socialisation?

::It teaches moral values, community rituals, and norms, even for non-practitioners.

What did Helen Watson say about the veil?

it is a symbol of liberty chosen by women to avoid the male gaze.

What did Paul Ghuman find in his 1999 study?

::Asian children are taught to be obedient, respect elders, value family, and preserve their mother tongue.

What does Modood’s research suggest?

:Some British-Asian youth defy stereotypes and engage in pre-marital sex.

What does Steve Bruce argue about the elderly and religion?::

Elderly people use religion as a cultural defense to preserve norms in a changing world.

Is Britain a secular country?:

:Partly—church attendance is low, but 46% said they still believe in God (2021 census).

What is formal socialisation in the workplace?

::When management socialises employees through rules, training, and expected norms

What is informal socialisation at work?:

:Learning norms from peers at work that may not be officially approved.

What is the glass ceiling?:

:An invisible barrier preventing women from reaching top roles at work

What does Gannon say about older women in work?::

They’re devalued post-menopause due to being judged on sexuality and child-bearing.

What did Skeggs find about women training as nurses?:

:Their work environment re-socialised them to dress and behave more modestly