EDUCATION AND SOCIETY – (A DEEP SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS)

Abstract

The relationship between education and society is central to understanding how social structures and individual identities are shaped. Education functions not only as a mechanism for transmitting knowledge but also as a powerful tool for socialization, cultural reproduction, and ideological control. This chapter explores these complex roles, beginning with education’s foundational role in socializing individuals into the norms and values of their society. Through the lens of Pierre Bourdieu’s theories of cultural reproduction and social capital, it examines how educational systems often perpetuate existing class structures and inequalities. Additionally, education is explored as a vehicle for ideological control, where dominant societal values are ingrained through formal curricula and institutional practices. Despite this, education also holds the potential for resistance and transformation, with marginalized groups utilizing it as a space for challenging oppression and advocating for social change. Drawing on various theoretical perspectives, the chapter underscores education's dual nature—both reinforcing societal continuity and acting as a catalyst for social change. By analyzing these roles through a sociological lens, this chapter highlights the profound impact of education on both individual lives and broader social structures, demonstrating its capacity to shape, sustain, or disrupt societal norms.