Education - Gender Flashcards
What is the feminist explanation for gender differences in achievement?
Feminism raised girls’ awareness of gender inequality, boosting ambition and self-esteem. Sue Sharpe (1970s vs 1990s) found girls shifted from family-focused goals to career aspirations. Feminists argue this increased motivation leads to higher female achievement. However, WC girls may still face barriers despite changing norms.
How has feminism influenced girls’ educational ambition?
Feminism provided legal and cultural shifts (e.g. Equal Pay Act, media role models) that encouraged girls to value independence. Girls now see education as the key to success. Critics argue that access to ambition is unequal, with class, race, and background shaping who benefits most.
How have changes in family structure influenced gender achievement?
The rise in lone-mother and dual-earner households gives girls strong female role models. Girls raised in these homes often aspire to independence. Boys may suffer from a lack of male role models, leading to disengagement. Feminists see this as empowerment; New Right critics claim it weakens family values.
How does the rise in women’s employment influence girls’ achievement?
Increased job opportunities (e.g. service sector, legislation) make education more relevant to girls. Mitsos & Browne argue work is now feminised, motivating girls. Critics say WC girls may still enter low-paid jobs despite aspirations, limiting real progress.
What is the impact of the Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts on girls’ achievement?
These laws opened more opportunities for women, making education feel worthwhile. Girls see career success as attainable. However, gender pay gaps and occupational segregation still exist, especially for WC and ethnic minority women.
How has individualisation influenced girls’ ambitions?
According to Beck & Gernsheim, girls must now plan for self-sufficiency. Careers, not marriage, offer security. Sharpe and Francis found girls increasingly see education as essential. Critics highlight that WC girls may still value relationships or face limited career access.
What did Sue Sharpe’s research reveal about changing ambitions?
In the 1970s, girls prioritised marriage and children. By the 1990s, they valued careers and independence. This shift is linked to feminism, changing work structures, and individualisation.
What is gender role socialisation and how does it affect education?
From early childhood, girls are taught to be quiet, verbal, and cooperative — traits rewarded in school. Boys are socialised into active, less verbal behaviours. This leads to stronger literacy in girls and better classroom adaptation.
What is bedroom culture and how does it affect girls’ achievement?
McRobbie’s “bedroom culture” refers to girls engaging in reading, talking, and socialising at home. This enhances communication and literacy, giving girls an advantage in school. Boys often miss out due to different play patterns.
What are gender domains and how do they affect subject choice?
Browne & Ross: Children internalise ideas that some tasks/subjects are “for boys” (e.g. mechanics) and others “for girls” (e.g. caring). These perceptions shape confidence and career aspirations.
Why do boys underachieve in literacy?
Boys are less likely to be read to, and have weaker verbal skills due to early socialisation. DfCSF (2007) linked literacy gaps to underperformance. In 2022, girls outperformed boys in reading by 9% at KS2.
What role do wider female role models play in girls’ education?
Seeing women in powerful roles (media, politics, business) motivates girls. Social media shows diverse success stories. This breaks traditional stereotypes but may also reinforce appearance-based values in some cases.
What is the crisis of masculinity and how does it affect boys?
Mac an Ghaill (1994): Loss of male industrial jobs led to WC boys losing purpose. Without traditional roles, they may disengage from school. Critics argue this crisis is class-based, not universal, and may reflect loss of male privilege.
How do feminists, Marxists, and New Right theorists evaluate the crisis of masculinity?
Feminists say it reflects backlash to declining male power. Marxists blame capitalism for removing unskilled labour. New Right thinkers worry boys lack strong role models and discipline.
What is teacher labelling and how does it affect gender achievement?
Teachers label boys as disruptive and girls as compliant. Boys get more attention, mostly negative, while girls receive praise. This boosts girls’ motivation and self-esteem while lowering boys’ engagement.
How do feminist perspectives explain teacher labelling?
Feminists argue teacher expectations reinforce gender norms — rewarding passive femininity and punishing active or non-traditional behaviour, especially among working-class or ethnic minority girls.
What is the feminisation of education according to Sewell?
Sewell claims schools favour traits seen as feminine — neatness, quietness, and attentiveness. Coursework and passive learning styles demotivate boys.
How does Sewell propose fixing the feminisation of education?
Sewell recommends reducing coursework and increasing exams and outdoor learning to re-engage boys. Critics argue this generalises all boys and ignores girls who struggle under passive expectations.
Why is the lack of male teachers seen as a barrier for boys?
With only 15% of UK primary teachers being male, boys lack male academic role models. Some boys may see school as a feminine space and disengage early.
What is an anti-school subculture and how does it affect boys?
Boys may form groups that reject academic success in favour of peer respect and ‘laddish’ behaviour. Boys fear failure and act as if they don’t try, gaining symbolic capital through defiance.
How does Willis’s study relate to gender and school subcultures?
In Learning to Labour, Willis found working-class ‘lads’ rejected school and formed a macho subculture. Education was viewed as irrelevant, reinforcing male working-class identity but limiting opportunity.
How do league tables influence gendered recruitment in schools?
Schools prefer recruiting girls because they achieve higher and behave better. This marketisation leads to schools subtly excluding ‘risky’ boys to maintain performance scores.
What is the impact of coursework on gender achievement?
Girls do better in coursework due to organisation and neatness. The gender gap widened when coursework was introduced and narrowed when it was reduced in 2015.
