Boys and Achievement External & Internal Factors

Question 1

Explain Boys and Literacy

Answer 1

Disparity in gender literacy and language skills
Parents spend less time reading to their sons, putting girls ahead of the game
Mothers do most reading so it’s seen as a feminine activity

Question 2

Explain the Boys and Literacy example

Answer 2

Leisure and activities ( football ) do not support the development of literacy and communication skills for boys
Literacy skills important to have in English written exams, needing good vocabulary.

Question 3

Explain the critique for Boys and Literacy

Answer 3

Raising Boys Achievement Project = To improve their literacy using 1 on 1 teaching.
The National Literacy Strategy = A focus on improving boys reading

Question 4

Who are the sociologists for decline in masculine jobs?

Answer 4

Mitosis and Browne

Question 5

Explain the Globalisation and the decline in Masculine Jobs

Answer 5

Heavy manufacturing jobs are declining in popularity
Boys start to develop a fatalistic attitude towards education, lack of interest
Thus, leading to an identity crisis as they have to compete for girl dominated careers; teachers, care workers etc.

Question 6

Explain the critique for decline in masculine jobs

Answer 6

Any qualifications are not needed for heavy industry jobs, it does not explain the underachievement of boys

Question 7

Who is the sociologist for the Feminisation of Education?

Answer 7

Sewell

Question 8

Explain the Feminisation of Education

Answer 8

The education system doesn’t align with the masculine traits like competitiveness.
Coursework is the reason for gender disparity in achievement, instead it should be replaced with final exams and outdoor curriculum.

Question 9

Explain a supporting study for Feminisation of Education

Answer 9

Swann = Teachers expect pupils to be more passive for the Ideal pupil image, like how girl pupils are.

Question 10

Explain the critique of Feminisation of Education

Answer 10

Competitiveness still exists such as house systems, sports club, chess tournaments and student councils.

Question 11

Explain the 2 types of language that Teachers use to express disapproval of pupil’s work

Answer 11

Disciplinarian discourse
Liberal discourse

Question 12

Who is the sociologist for Shortage of Male Primary School Teachers?

Answer 12

Yougov

Question 13

Explain the Shortage of Male Primary School Teachers

Answer 13

The lack of male role models at home and school is the cause of boys underachievement.

Question 14

Explain an example for the Shortage of Male Primary School Teachers

Answer 14

Large numbers of boys are being brought up in the 1.5 million female-headed lone parent families in the UK.

Question 15

What does Yougov argue?

Answer 15

That 13% of primary school teachers are male.
Survey = Male teacher presence help them work hard, 42% make them behave better

Question 16

Explain the critique for the Shortage of Male Primary School Teachers

Answer 16

Read: 2 types of teachers of Disciplinarian discourse - Authority - more suitable for male teachers
Liberal discourse - Invisible authority

Question 17

Who is the sociologist for Laddish Subcultures

Answer 17

Debbie Epstein

Question 18

Explain Laddish Subcultures

Answer 18

Boys display the class clown behaviour, often being silly = underachievement
W/C boys often harassed, labelled as ‘sissies’ and receiving verbal abuse if they appear to be ‘swots’.
Epstein = W/C culture is that masculinity is being tough and manufacturing heavy work, so they often avoid schoolwork as it’s not masculine, to avoid being called gay.
She quoted how “Real boys don’t work”

Question 19

What is the study for Laddish Subcultures

Answer 19

Francis studies how boys are more concerned about being labelled by their peers as the label is a threat to their masculinity.

Question 20

Explain the critique for Laddish Subcultures

Answer 20

Girls also display Laddish subcultures like the hypersexualised identity
Boys also work hard but hide it as the fear of being labelled.