Education & Gender Flashcards
What are the external factors that cause girls to achieve more than boys?
- The impact of feminism
- Changes in family
- Changes in women’s employment
- Girls changing ambitions
How does feminism lead to achievement in girls?
The changes encouraged by feminism can challenge stereotypes of women’s movements in both sphere
What are some of the major changes in the family since the 1970s?
Increased divorce rate
increase in cohabitation
An increase in lone parent families
Smaller families
How do changes in the family lead to achievement in girls?
Increasement in female’s lone parent families gives girls higher aspirations and sense of independence.
The increase in divorces reinforces the idea girls don’t have to rely on husbands.
What are some important changes in women’s employment?
The Equal pay act 1970 and the sex discrimination act 1975 shows women are breaking through the ‘glass ceiling’.
How do changes in employment lead to achievement in girls?
Encourages girls to have greater career opportunities and have role models with successful career acting as a incentive to gain qualifications.
What did Sharpe 1994 find?
Girls priorities have changed from love, marriage and children in 1970 to being career focuses in 1990s.
How do girls changing ambitions lead to achievement in girls?
They recognise that in order to achieve independence and self sufficiency, they need a good education.
What are the internal factors of gender differences in achievement?
∙Equal opportunities policies
∙GCSE and coursework
∙Marketisation
∙Teacher’s attention
What are examples of educational policies?
GIST and WISE which encouraged girls to pursue careers in non traditional fields.
What did the introduction of coursework do?
Girls are more successful in coursework as they are more conscientious and better organised, take care with presentation and are better at meeting deadlines, which helps girls benefit more from the introduction of coursework
How has there been an increase in positive role models in schools for girls?
The increase in female teachers and head teachers show women can achieve senior positions.
What do sociologists argue that these characteristics and skills are the result of?
Early gender role socialisation where girls are more likely to be taught to be neat, tidy and patient, which helps girls in the assessment system
Why do teachers respond negatively to boys
Boys attracted more teacher attention but also discipline them harsher and lower their expectations of them
Why do teachers respond more positively to girls
boys dominate class discussion whereas girls prefer group work and turn taking showing they are more cooperative then boys who are more disruptive
