IDEOLOGY & HEGEMONY


Ideology: a set of ideas/beliefs/values/that give us a framework for viewing the world.
               e.g. Christianity - powerful, all-seeing God.
               e.g. Feminism - women are unequal & should fight for equality.
               e.g. Marxism - seeking equality for all classes redistributing of wealth. 
               e.g. Nationalism - love for your country. 

Dominant ideologies: Those values/beliefs that are shared by most people in the given society.
                                  e.g. Consumerism - a belief that having "stuff" makes us happy.
                                  e.g. Nuclear Family - a belief that happy families involves a father and a                                                    mother with children.
                                  e.g. Gender & Femininity - Some of these change over time. Women should be                                            kind, empathetic....
                                  e.g. Beauty - Skinny, young, white, blonde.....
                                        Context - Historical & Cultral