" Since societies, cultures and indeed families differ or change over time, concepts of children, childhood and the ensuing child rearing practices and expectations of children differ and change accordingly".
(Taylor and Woods, 1998, p.6).
This essay aims to show the ways in which dominant ideologies, about childhood, family and society, might be developed and reinforced by social institutions. .
The philosopher Destutt de Tracy (1754-1836) to describe his proposal for a science of ideas coined ideology. Today the term is used typically to describe any set of beliefs that support sectional interests. The prevailing ideologies in society are likely to reflect and justify interests of the dominant (class, political, or religious) groups.
The term implies that ideological beliefs are in some way exaggerations or distortions of reality. Several individual uses of the term have emerged in different political theories (e.g. Marxism).
The term dominant ideology means the principal ideas, values and morals in a given society. It is a particular version of reality but only one of a number of possible versions. These ideas may, however, be so well established that members of society believe them to be naturally given and beyond question. It is possible for different ideologies to exist within a given society, different versions of reality, but they lack the persuasive power and generalised acceptance enjoyed by the dominant ideology.
Social institutions can reinforce ideologies. An institution can be seen as a sort of "super-custom", a set of mores, folkways, and patterns of behaviour that deals with major social interests: law, church and family for example. Therefore a social institution consists of all the structural components of a society through which the main concerns and activities are organised, and social needs (such as those for order, belief and reproduction) are met.
The current concept of institution is constantly changing, seeing the family or church, for instance, as comprising changing patterns of behaviour based on relatively more stable value systems.
