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Analysis On Bourdieu’s Educational Reproduction Theory

Posted on:2014-02-13Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:Q YaoFull Text:PDF
GTID:2247330398958444Subject:Principles of Education
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The1950s and1960s witnessed the golden development of western education. After WorldWar II, the world situation is stabilized, the levels of productivity of the Western capitalistcountries have been greatly improved as a result of the increasingly stabilized world situation.The education of the Western countries has also developed rapidly together with thedevelopment of the economy. Under this circumstance, not only has the primary and secondaryeducation gradually gained popularity but also the enrollment rates of higher education continueto rise. With the concepts of educational equality and educational democracy deeply rooted inthe hearts of the people, education is regarded as the best means of reform. It is universallybelieved that education can not only promote the development of the individual, but also canpromote the flow of the class, thus eliminating social inequality. However, people come to findthat the development of education has not brought about the results they expected andinequality still exists. The relevant study shows that education can not treat everyone fairly. Norcan it eliminate social inequalities. Educational Reproduction Theory is to study how educationcan contribute to the reproduction of social inequality.Bourdieu believes that education is a process of reproduction which can not eliminatesocial inequalities but will help to maintain and strengthen this inequality. Education with itsrelative independence of its own, has not only achieved social reproduction, but legitimized itthrough the reproduction of culture. Educational reproduction theory of Bourdieu has changethe traditional view of education, at the same time providing a new perspective for our researchabout functions of education. This thesis gives a systematic introduction to the contents ofBourdieu′s educational reproduction theory. It tries to explore the possible channels andmechanisms through which education has achieved its reproduction as well as making therelated evaluation. Equal emphasis has been laid on practical significance of Bourdieu′seducational reproduction theory in our country, hoping to promote our education, especially theeducation in rural areas.This thesis is divided into five parts: the introductory part, the description of Bourdieu′sacademic career, the comprehensive analysis of Bourdieu′s educational reproduction theory, the evaluation of the Bourdieu′s educational reproduction theory, and the practical significanceof Bourdieu′s educational reproduction theory in China.The introductory part mainly deals with the analysis of the origin, purpose and significanceof the topic of the thesis, as well as the situation and the methods of research. The first chapteris about Bourdieu′s academic career, including a brief description of Bourdieu′s uniqueupbringing experience. It also gives an analysis of the impact of his early life on Bourdieu′sthoughts. The second chapter is about the main content of Bourdieu′s educational reproductiontheory. This section begins with the background and theoretical origin of Bourdieu′seducational reproduction theory, followed by the demonstration of the logical basis of thetheory elaborated from Action on Education, the education authority, educational work andeducation system. Then a comprehensive analysis of the education process of reproduction isconducted. Eventually, it discusses how educational reproduction leads to social reproduction.The third chapter is about the evaluation of Bourdieu′s educational reproduction theory. On theone hand, the contribution of Bourdieu′s educational reproduction theory is huge: it not onlyenriches the content of the study of the sociology of education, provides a new perspective forthe study of educational inequality, thus reversing the direction of social anthropology andcultural studies, but also it is beyond the dualism of subjectivism and objectivism. On the otherhand, Educational reproduction theory has some limitations. It ignores other functions of theeducation, the initiative and change of the education. Besides, its universal applicability isdebatable because education theory of reproduction is mainly based on the theories of theFrench society. In addition, it comes with a social determinism color. The fourth chapter is thepractical significance of Bourdieu′s educational reproduction theory in China. The chapteranalyzes the phenomenon related to Bourdieu′s educational reproduction theory, trying to getsome inspiration from this theory which can promote the development of education in China.
Keywords/Search Tags:Pierre Bourdieu, Reproduction, Educational Reproduction Theory, PracticalSignificance
PDF Full Text Request
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