Card 30 - Gender Differential Attainment: Changes In The Family

Question 0

How would the 4 ways that the family has changed affect differential gender attainment in education?

• Increase in divorce rates.
• Increase in cohabitation.
• Increase in female-headed families.
• Smaller family sizes.

Answer 0

• Increased divorce rates - Leads to females being less dependent on men as girls in the household may see divorce as an example of not needing a male breadwinner. Could also lead to girls not wanting to end up like their parents.
• Increase in cohabitation - Girls will not see marriage as important as a thing and more likely to focus on their careers.
• Increase in female-headed families - example of a female economic role may lead girls to a career mindset of being financially independent.
• Smaller family sizes - Leads to more stress on the importance of money in a small household, meaning girls may prioritise a career over family life.

Question 1

What are the main changes in the family that affect gender differential attainment? Give 4.

Answer 1

• Increase in divorce rate.
• Increase in cohabitation.
• Increase in female-headed family.
• Smaller family sizes.