Class differences in girls achievement

Question 1

what can female achievement be linked to

Answer 1

class

Question 2

stats to suggest that class differences have an effect on girls achievement

Answer 2

While girls on average achieve more highly than boys, this does not mean that all girls are successful. For example, in 2013 only 40.6% of girls eligible for free school meals achieved five 5A*-C GCSEs compared to 67.5% of those not eligible for FSM

Question 3

sociologist

Answer 3

Archer

Question 4

what concept is used to explain why WC girls do less well and by who

Answer 4

Archer uses the concept of symbolic capital to explain why WC girls do less well

Question 5

what does Archer argue

Answer 5

Archer argues that WC girls gain symbolic capital from their peers by portraying a specific WC feminine identity

Question 6

Key traits of the WC feminine identity

Answer 6

Adopting a hyper-heterosexual feminine identity
Having a boyfriend
Being ‘loud’

Question 7

what dilemma do WC girls face

Answer 7

Archer argues that WC girls either gain symbolic capital from their peers by conforming to a hyper-heterosexual feminine identity or gain educational capital by rejecting their working-class identity and conforming to the school’s notions of being respectable, ideal female pupils.

Question 8

how do WC girls cope with said dilemma

Answer 8

Some girls try to cope with their dilemma by defining themselves as good underneath. This reflects the girl’s struggle to achieve a sense of self-worth within an education system that devalues their WC identities. Archer concludes that WC feminine identities and education success conflicts with one another. This is the main cause of their under achievement.