Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The University of Hong Kong Department of Sociology
The University of Hong Kong Department of Sociology
The University of Hong Kong Department of Sociology
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
Topic 9: Why do we work like a dog? Education and work in modern society
Marxist explanation
- reproduction of labour force for capitalism through hidden curriculum and
correspondence principles (Bowles & Gintis)
- acceptance of hierarchy, motivation by external rewards, fragmentation of subjects,
and subservient workforce
- resulted in a workforce which has the personality, attitudes and values useful to the
capitalist production
- create surplus labour to keep wage down
- legitimise social inequality by instilling the dominant ideology and false consciousness;
meritocracy is only an illusion
- reproduce inequality
- economic inequality
- cultural and social inequality
- cultural capital gives privileged students built-in advantages (Bourdieu) while
eliminate students from subordinate classes
References:
Croteau, D. & Hoynes, W. 2020. Experience Sociology (4/e). New York: McGraw-Hill.
ch.13 & p.371.
Giddens, A. & Sutton, P.W. 2017. Sociology (8/e). Cambridge: Polity. ch.7&19.
Haralambos, M. & Holborn, M. 2013. Sociology Themes and Perspectives (8/e) London:
Harper Collins. pp.665-668, 696-699.
Triventi, M. et al. 2020. Advantage ‘Finds Its Way’: How Privileged Families Exploit
Opportunities in Different Systems of Secondary Education, Sociology, 54(2): 237-257.