1. To me, ideology is a subconscious system of beliefs that shapes how we view the world and act within it. We are taught these ideologies from a young age through a process called political socialization; where institutions like family, schools, media, and social groups influence values and political views. We as citizens often unaware of how specific goals we internalized have been shaped by larger systems with more specific goals. An example of ideology from an intersectional perspective, is the common phrase told to many BIPOC children and young adults: “You have to work twice as hard to get half as far.” On the surface, it may sound like motivation, but it reveals a deeper ideology that systemic racism and inequality will affect how your hard work is perceived to certain people. To further expand on how I understand ideology, I think it’s important to acknowledge that many people are unaware of the ideologies they’ve absorbed, or who actually benefits from them. The democratic, consumer, and entertainment apparatuses all play a role in distracting citizens from recognizing equality. For example, it feels easier to identify as a “matcha girly” or a “Knicks” fan than to critically identify yourself as a member of the working class. These apparatuses interpellate us; meaning they call us into roles and identifies that keep us invested in the system, rather than rebelling against it. Through these tools, ideology becomes something we live out daily.
  2. The primary dividing line between conservatives and liberal ideologies in the US lies in their core values; liberty v equality. Conservatives tend to emphasize individual freedom, limited government, and personal responsibility. They often believe that a smaller government leads to lower taxes and more efficient markets. While liberals on the other hand, tend to prioritize social and economic equality, often supporting a more active government role in addressing systemic issues such as poverty education and healthcare. Liberals also have a higher belief in the government than conservatives. They advocate for government programs that offer support to marginalized communities. It’s important to note however, assumptions made about socioeconomic background; are just generalizations and not absolute truth.
  3. 20th century redefines ideology not as a set of consciously chosen beliefs, but as an unconscious frames work through which people interpret the world. Building on Marxist theory, we now argue that ideology serves the ruling class by maintaining their power and reinforcing the existing social order through systems that shape individuals from a young age. Althusser introduced the concept of ideological state apparatuses, such as schools, media, and religion, and family which produce compliance through repetition and normalization of dominant values. On the other hand, repressive state apparatuses like the police, or the courts, enforce power through direct control or through the threat of violence. Althusser also sees schools as significantly important. For instance, schools don’t just teach academic content, they teach obedience, competition, and how to function within a capitalist economy. As Althusser put it, no other ideological state apparatus “has the obligatory audience of the totality of children… eight hours a day for five or six days.” This positions education as the modern equivalent of the medieval church; not just a place of learning, but a tool for ideological conditioning.

One thought on “Meadow Shaw – Discussion 3.1”

  1. The exmaple about BIPOC youth was powerful; it shows how ideology can seem helpful but still reflect unfair systems. You also made it clear how both RSAs and ISAs work together to keep people in certain roles.

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