How Do We Learn Our Identity? (continued)
Overview
Everyone agrees that we are socialised. The fierce disagreement is over what socialisation is really doing. Is it gently knitting society together, passing on shared values so that millions of strangers can live side by side? Or is it quietly training us to accept an unfair world, teaching the poor to obey and girls to step back? The answer you give depends on which sociological perspective you look through.
This note takes the socialisation you already know and turns it into a debate. You will meet the consensus view of the Functionalists, the conflict view of the Marxists, and the Feminist argument that socialisation builds and rebuilds gender inequality. Each perspective gets its argument and its criticisms, so you can weigh them fairly and reach the balanced judgement that examiners reward.
Objectives
- Consensus and conflict.
- Functionalist ideas: inadequate socialisation, social cohesion/value consensus.
- Marxist ideas: socialisation into capitalist ideology, reproduction of social class.
- Feminist ideas: gender role socialisation into masculinity/femininity.
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on How Do We Learn Our Identity? (continued). Now that you've explored the key concepts and ideas, it's time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
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Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which perspective is best described as a consensus theory? A. Marxism B. Feminism C. Functionalism D. Conflict theory Answer: C
- The idea that socialisation passes on ruling-class ideology so the working class accepts inequality is associated with: A. Functionalism B. Marxism C. the New Right D. consensus theory Answer: B
- A society organised so that men hold most of the power is described by Feminists as: A. meritocratic B. patriarchal C. egalitarian D. pluralist Answer: B
- Sue Sharpe's research on girls' priorities in the 1970s and 1990s is evidence that gender-role socialisation: A. is fixed by biology B. can change as society changes C. only affects boys D. has no effect on ambition Answer: B
- Which of these is a common criticism made of BOTH Functionalism and Marxism? A. They ignore gender entirely B. They treat individuals as too passive C. They deny that socialisation exists D. They reject the idea of social class Answer: B
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Recommended Books
Further learning from open sources
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Textbook section
Theoretical Perspectives on Society
Describe Durkheim’s functionalist view of society
"Introduction to Sociology 2e: Theoretical Perspectives on Society" by OpenStax, OpenStax, Rice University, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-2e/pages/4-2-theoretical-perspectives-on-society. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-2e/pages/1-introduction
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Textbook section
Gender
Explain the influence of socialization on gender roles in the United States
"Introduction to Sociology 2e: Gender" by OpenStax, OpenStax, Rice University, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-2e/pages/12-2-gender. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-2e/pages/1-introduction
Published by other organisations under open licences, credited as they ask. Links open their websites.
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