The Marxist Perspective on Education

The Marxist view on education, as detailed by Karl Thompson on ReviseSociology, explores how educational systems perpetuate social inequality and serve the interests of dominant classes

Jonghoon Park

Source: Campbell, Alexia Fernández. “One Simple Solution to Tackle the Gender Pay Gap.” Center for Public Integrity, 7 July 2023, publicintegrity.org/accountability/one-simple-solution-to-tackle-the-gender-pay-gap/.

Annotated Bibliography

This article from ReviseSociology provides a concise yet thorough overview of the Marxist perspective on education. It posits that education systems in capitalist societies function to maintain and reproduce class inequalities. By disseminating ruling class ideologies, education creates compliant workers and legitimizes social inequalities through hidden curricula that instill values such as discipline, obedience, and competition. The article highlights how these educational practices align with the economic needs of capitalism and serve to protect the interests of the ruling class. It discusses various ways in which the education system enforces social stratification, such as through differential access to educational resources and opportunities based on socioeconomic status. This resource is particularly useful for students and researchers looking to understand the practical applications of Marxist theory in the realm of education, offering clear examples and explanations of how educational institutions contribute to the perpetuation of economic and social inequalities. This resource is particularly useful for my project as it succinctly explains the practical applications of Marxist theory in education, which is central to my analysis of economic inequality. It supports the argument that educational systems are complicit in maintaining class divisions and highlights the need for structural reforms to address these systemic inequities.