1. A Repressive State Apparatus (RSAs) describes institutions used by the government, often using direct physical force to maintain power. Althusser calls it repressive because of the use of coercion, force, and suppression. An example of this could be a protest and the state’s response. We see how in present day media whenever there is a protest whether it be peaceful or not, the response is usually police there to break it up, use tear gas, and even arrest participants.
  2. Ideological State Apparatus (ISAs) are described as institutions that maintain dominance of the ruling class using ideology rather than force. An example of IISA would be the education system. Schools condition students from young to be punctual, obedient, and disciplined with punishments enforced such as detention, suspension, and expulsion.
  3. The primary difference between the two is the use of force vs desire. Ideological State Apparatuses tend to subtly teach people to think of the dominant system as the ‘natural’ and normal way thus making people accept things the way they’ve been conditioned to do so. Repressive State Apparatuses use direct physical force to maintain control and ensure obedience when the ISA fails to do so.
  4. An example of Ideology I chose was the recent push of ‘trad-wife’ content on social media. A tradwife is typically a woman who prefers the traditional division of labour within the marriage, usually consisting of the wife managing the food and housekeeping while the husband manages the family finances. This type of content operates as an Ideological State Apparatus by pandering to the patriarchy,subtly  pushing women to reject feminism and submit to their husbands. https://www.newsweek.com/meet-three-influencers-pushing-trad-wife-trend-1914213

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