5.2 Gender Differences Internal Factors

Question 1

What did Gorard 2005 find?

Answer 1

The gender gap in achievement was fairly constant from 1975 until 1988-9 when it increased sharply. This is the year of when GCSEs were introduced bringing coursework with it. Gorard concludes that the gender gap in achievement is a product of the changed system of assessment rather than any other general failing of boys.

Question 2

Do mitsos and browne 1998 support gorard’s view?

Answer 2

Yes, they conclude that the girls are more successful in coursework because they are more conscientious and better organised than boys.
They note that girls gain from:
Maturing earlier- allowing for more concentration
Greater use of oral exams- girls have generally better developed language skills.

Question 3

Teachers attention

Answer 3

Francis 2001: found that while boys got more attention, they were disciplined more harshly and felt picked on by teachers who tended to have lowere expectations for them.
Swann 1998: found gender differences in communication styles. Boys dominated class discussions, whereas girls prefer pair-work and are better at listening.
Spender 1983: found that teachers spend more time interacting with boys than girls.
French and French 1993: analysed classroom interactions, they found that the amount of attention teachers paid to boys and girls for academic reasons was similar. Boys only received more attention because they attracted more discipline.

Question 4

Equal opportunities policies

Answer 4

-feminist ideas have a major impact on the education system.
- who run the system are aware of gender issues + are more sensitive to avoid gender stereotyping.
-policies like GIST, WISE and wiSTEM encourage girls to pursue careers.
-National curriculum 1988 made it that girls and boys study mostly the same subjects
-Kelly 1987 argued that making science compulsory helps to equalise opportunities.
- Boaler 1998 sees impact of equal opportunities policies as a key reason for the changes in girls achievement.

Question 5

Weiner 1995 argues….

Answer 5

That since 80s teachers have challenged such stereotypes

Question 6

Two views of girls achievement:

Answer 6

Liberal feminists:
Celebrate the progress made so far in improving achievement.
They believe further progress will be made by continuing development of equal opportunities policies encouraging positive role models and overcoming sexist attitudes and stereotypes.

Radical feminists:
Take a more critical view.
They still believe the system is patriarchal e.g.
-sexual harassment still happens in schools
- male teachers are still more likely to be beads in secondary schools
- education still limits girls choices