education and gender Flashcards
differences at GCSES
-show 52.5% of girls, 46.8% of boys achieving grade 5 and above in GCSE maths and english
-gaps small in double science 3.6% points
differences at alevels
-83.9% of girls got A*-c compared to 80% boys
-boys less likely to do ALEVELS
-423,355 a levels certificates to females in 2022 comapred to 353,270 to males
problems boys face in ED
-girls outperform boys in SATS/GCSE
-13% difference in english
-boys are less likely to do higher tier
problems girls face in ED
-choose stereotypical subjects - low paid and low status
-girls given less attention from teachers
-working class girls dont do as well as middle class boys
-girls are vicitims of sexual harassment
why do gender differences occur?
-girls care more about work
-girls seek academic validation
-stereotypical curriculum e.g textiles for girls
-Dt for boys
-bedroom culture for girls
-woman now have more motivation due to more opportunities
-coursework favors girls
-boys mature later
-not enough male role models at primary
-boys enjoy more practical
what is feminism?
-movement to bring out equality for women (women are exploited and oppressed by men)
what is first wave feminism?
-started by suffragettes to campaign for women vote rights
what is second wave feminism?
-campaign to bring rights e.g equal pay for women
what is third wave feminism?
-current feminist movement which sees society as more equal but sees women as facing different challenges according to their class and ethnicity.
what is patriarchy?
-male dominated society
what is hidden curriculum?
-aspects of curriculum not in sylabus e.g norms, values, attitudes learnt in school e.g ideas on gender
what is GIST?
-girls into science and technology
what is WISE?
-women into science and engineering
what is STEM?
-science, tech, engineering and maths
(external factors for girls)
impact of feminism?
-mitsos and browne
-feminism challenges ideas women should be wife or mother
-media portrays women in range of roles e.g inpendent career inspire girls
-HOWEVER, middle class aspire to these more than working class
(external factors for girls)
changes in employment
-mitosos and browne
-legislation equal pay act & sex discrimination has shown theres space for equality in work
-more opportunity and employment for women
-HOWEVER, normally low paid and low status so woman under represented in senior positions
(external factors for girls)
changes in the family
-increase in divorce and less marriage made them realise they need to support themselves
-increase in working mothers given role models for girls
-HOWEVER, some girls still look for rich husbands
(external factors for girls)
girls changing ambitions
-sue sharpe
-1974= ambition to be mothers and wifes
-1990= wanted a career
-ambitions require qualifications
-not applying to all as ethnic minorities pressured to be housewives
(internal factors)
equal opportunities policies
-gov policies introduced
-GIST= girls into science and tech
-WISE= woman in science and engineering
-natural curriculum compulsory to study maths, science and english
-has led to improvements
-but girls still less likely to pick physics and engineering
(internal factors for girls)
role models in schools
-more females teaching
-in 2005 females head teachers increased from 22% to 35%
HOWEVER, females are still significantly under represented in senior positions
(internal factors for girls)
teacher attention
-more positive attention to girls then boys
-SWARN= teachers interact w boys by focusing on their behavior but with girls they focus on their work
-HOWEVER, doesnt happen in single sex schools and too generalised
(internal factors for girls)
challenging stereotypes
-stereotypical images removed in textbooks
-WEINER= improve girl achievement by putting images of women in power
-HOWEVER some parts of history are still ‘woman free zone’
(external factors for boys)
decline of traditional men jobs
-MAC AN GHAIL- boys facing crisis of masculinity due to decline of manual jobs e.g mining and manufacturing
-dont see hope in ED
-HOWEVER, applies to boys growing in industrial areas
(external factors for boys)
boys and literacy
-poorer literacy skills
-less time reading
-like football and games
BUT class affects as middle class boys read more than w/c girls
(internal factors for boys)
feminisation of education
-education is more feminine
-schls dont nurture many masculine traits
e.g leadership and competetivness
-coursework favours girls as they care more ab prsentation
-whilst boys are outmore
eval= from recent gcse results boys have improved since coursework reduced
(internal factors for boys)
shortage of male primary teachers
-lack of male role models from young
-increasing female 1 parent families
-in 2007, 16% male primary schl teachers
HOWEVER middle class boys not affected in some way
(internal factors for boys)
laddish subcultures
-EPSTIEN= boys underachieve as its not seen a masculine to work hard
-laddish subculture encourages boys to mess around not work hard
-boys who work hard likely to be bullied
-JACKSON- found girls also similar with ‘ladette subcultures’
what is meant by laddish subcultures?
- often by working class who gain status amongst friends by being anti school
what is meant by gender domains?
-boys and girls see male and female territory and therefore relevant or irrelevant to themselves may affect subject choices
what is meant by crisis of masculinity?
-MAC AN GHAIL working class males dont have vocation due to decline in traditional manual labour
what is meant by bedroom culture?
-parents control girls more so they stay in more
what is meant by service sector?
-uk economy mainly based on sale of services which includes jobs e.g admin, communication, sales, catering and beauty
typically male subjects?
-maths
-physics
-business studies
-geo
-PE
-engineering
-construction
typically female subjects?
-english
-psychology
-sociology
-art
-media studies
-hair and beauty
-childcare
what are the reasons for the differences in gender choosing subjects?
socialization, gendered subjects images, gendered career opportunities and peer pressure
what does Ann Oakley say on socialisation
-boys and girls treated diff from birth
-directed by parents towards diff interests
-girls given dolls and kitchens to play with
-boys given cars and balls
-girls to ballet and boys to football
how may that influence subject choices in later life?
-boys may choose sport
-girls choose dance
-cars = motor vechiles
-bricks= construction
what does Kelly say about gendered subject images?
-science seen as more masculine
-science packaged as boys subject with pictures of boys e.g footballs and cars
- boys dominate science classes by shouting answers and grabbing equipment first
weaknesses with kellys argument?
-girls still outperform boys in science
-wouldnt apply to single sex schools
What does Paetcher say about peer pressure?
-need to fit in typical gender identity
-less likely to attract negative response
-boys avoid ‘dance’ or ‘hairdressing’ fearing the label of being ‘gay’
-girls not choosing construction or sport as fear of not being seen as feminine.
What is being said about gendered career opportunities?
-subject choices can relate to career opportunities
-some jobs are seen as masculine or feminine
-young ppl less likely to go into careers not typical for their gender
-vocational courses often linked to male or female jobs so participation these courses tend to be more gendered.
what did american research study suggest ab girls and boys idea of gender and education?
-kids as young as 6 influenced by gender stereotypes
-boys saw males as being “really really smart”
-girls saw females as brilliant only 48%
wht was the findings carried out by the US national Bureau?
-one exam anonymous marked by blind examiners
-other exam marked by teachers who knew pupils names
-in anonymous girls outperformed boys
-boys done better w teachers knowing their names
-teachers overestimated boys
what did UK institute of physics show about achievement in physics ?
-believed it was only for smart people
-state of co education didn’t see single girl take ALEVEL physics
-but 2.5 times more likely in single sex school
subjects and gender
girls more likely to english and boys likely to do hard sciences
employment and gender
males likely to do science and engineering and girls likely to do teaching or admin
small participation and gender
females less in computer science and boys less in nursing
what do liberal feminists say?
celebrate the progress being made to achieve gender equality e.g improvement for girls
-equal opportunities legislation
-schemes GIST AND WISE
-increase in senior management females
which areas of improvements is still needed?
-subject choices so girls persue higher jobs
what do radical feminists say?
although there’s more equality in terms of achievement, ed system is still male dominated
what are examples given by radical feminists?
-still a lot male principles
-history is women free zone
-girls suffer verbal abuse e.g LEES says they are labelled slags and sluts as way of reinforcing gender roles
-suffer male gaze as if their sex objects
-girls and boys treated different to reinforce gender identities
example of sexual harassment being an issue in schools
59% of 13-19 yr old said they experienced sexual harassment
What did sue sharpe say?
-girls ambitions have changed
- earlier they wanted to get married
- now they want careers
What did Sewell say?
-Black boys under achieve because of peer culture influenced by rap and gaining immediate gratification
What did Kelly argue?
-Science is packed as a boys subject
-teachers use examples for boys e.g cars and football
-boys dominate and grab equipment first
What did mitosis and Browne say?
-Girls achieve more highly then boys as coursework is in their favour
-girls spend more time on coursework and work on presentation
What did fuller say?
-Self fulfilling prophecy was not inevitable
-black girls worked hard to prove teachers wrong and overcome labels
What did Epstein say?
-Working class boys have laddish culture
-if they work hard at school they are seen as “sissies” or called homophobic names
What did Oakley say?
-Girls and boys follow traditional gender role paths due to early socialisation
-boys given cars to aspire them to become mechanics
-girls are given dolls to aspire to go into childcare
What did Mac and ghail say?
-working class boys suffer “crisis of masculinity”
-due to decline in manual employment
-lost ambitions as there’s no careers for them
