Education Topic 4 - Gender Flashcards
What impact does gender have on educational experience?
Gender can have a major impact on how we experience education, with girls now overtaking boys in academic performance.
By what percentage were girls ahead of boys at the end of year 1 in all areas of learning?
Girls were ahead of boys by between 7 and 17% in all 7 areas of learning.
In which subject do girls consistently perform better, and how does the gap change with age?
Girls consistently perform better in English, with the gap widening as they age.
What is the gender gap in GCSE results?
The gender gap stands at about 10% difference.
How do girls perform in vocational subjects compared to boys?
A larger proportion of girls achieve distinctions in every subject, including engineering and construction.
True or False: The focus on girls outperforming boys obscures the fact that some girls underachieve.
True
What external factor has significantly improved women’s rights and opportunities?
The impact of Feminism has improved women’s rights and opportunities.
How did McRobbie’s study illustrate changes in women’s representation in media from the 1970s to the 1990s?
McRobbie’s study showed a shift from magazines emphasizing marriage to those portraying strong independent women.
What major changes in family structure have influenced girls’ attitudes towards education since the 1970s?
Girls may have role models of strong independent women, prompting them to seek well-paid jobs and good qualifications.
What significant legislative change in 1970 impacted women’s employment?
The 1970 Equal Pay Act made it illegal to pay women less than men for the same work.
According to Sharpe’s interviews, how did girls’ priorities shift from the 1970s to the 1990s?
In the 1970s, girls prioritized love and marriage, while in the 1990s, they prioritized careers and self-support.
What does Boaler (1998) argue is a key reason for changes in girls’ achievement?
Boaler argues that equal opportunities policies have removed barriers to educational success.
How do teachers interact differently with boys and girls according to Francis (2001)?
Boys are disciplined more harshly and have lower expectations placed on them by teachers.
What are GIST and WISE initiatives aimed at?
GIST (Girls into Science and Technology) and WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) encourage girls to pursue non-traditional careers.
What is the impact of coursework on the gender gap in achievement according to Gorard (2005)?
Gorard claims the gender gap increased after the introduction of GCSEs and coursework, indicating assessment change rather than boys’ failure.
What is the ‘glass ceiling’ in women’s employment?
The ‘glass ceiling’ refers to the invisible barrier that keeps women out of high-level professional or managerial jobs.
What does the term ‘symbolic capital’ refer to in the context of working-class girls?
Symbolic capital refers to the status and recognition gained from peers by performing working-class feminine identities.
What conflict do working-class girls face regarding their identities and educational success?
They face a dilemma between gaining symbolic capital from peers or gaining educational capital by conforming to the school’s ideal female pupil.
What is one reason for boys’ underachievement according to the DCSF (2007)?
Boys’ poor literacy and language skills are a significant reason for their underachievement.
What is the feminization of education according to Sewell (2006)?
Sewell argues that the curriculum is feminized, failing to nurture traditionally masculine traits like competitiveness.
What role do male primary school teachers play in boys’ education?
A shortage of male primary school teachers is believed to contribute to boys’ underachievement.
What does Epstein (1998) suggest about masculinity and working-class boys in education?
Working-class boys face harassment for appearing academic, as masculinity is constructed as being tough and manual.
What is the focus of the National Literacy Strategy?
The National Literacy Strategy aims to improve boys’ reading skills.
What is one critique of feminist policies in education?
Critics argue that policies promoting gender equality are no longer needed and that girls are succeeding at boys’ expense.
What does the term ‘intersectionality’ refer to in the context of educational achievement?
Intersectionality refers to how social class, ethnicity, and gender interplay in affecting educational outcomes.
Fill in the blank: The gender gap among black Caribbean pupils is _____ than other ethnic groups.
greater
What are some gender differences in subject choice at A Level?
Boys tend to choose maths and physics, while girls choose sociology, English, or languages.
What is one explanation for gender differences in subject choice?
Gender role socialization shapes gender identity and influences subject selection.
What subjects do boys tend to choose at A Level?
Maths and physics
This trend continues with subject choice at university.
What subjects do girls tend to choose at A Level?
Sociology, English, or languages
This indicates a gender split in subject choice.
What is one example of gender segregation in vocational education?
Only 1 in 100 childcare apprentices are boys
This highlights the disparity in gender representation.
What is the role of early socialization in shaping gender identity?
It occurs within the home and is influenced by schools
Both environments contribute to the development of gender identity.
What do Byrne’s findings indicate about teacher expectations for boys?
Boys are encouraged to be tough, show initiative, and not be weak
This influences their preferences in activities and reading.
What do Murphy and Elwood (1998) argue about reading preferences?
Boys read hobby books while girls read stories about people
This leads to different subject choices in education.
What are ‘gender domains’ according to Browne and Ross (1991)?
Tasks/activities viewed as male or female
These domains shape children’s confidence in various subjects.
How does gender affect confidence in subject-related tasks?
Girls are more confident in tasks related to food/nutrition, boys in cars
This reflects their perceived gender domains.
What does Kelly argue about the perception of science education?
Science is seen as a male subject
This is due to male-dominated teachers and examples in textbooks.
What is the ‘male domain’ in sports according to Paechter (1998)?
Sports are viewed as a male domain
Girls who are sporty face contradictions to their gender image.
What did Dewar (1990) find about male reactions to girls in sports?
Male pupils labeled girls as ‘butch’ or ‘lesbian’
This reflects the pressure of gender norms.
How does peer pressure influence subject choice?
Peers police one another’s subject choices in mixed schools
This can lead to more stereotyped choices.
What trend was observed in pupils from single-sex schools?
They hold less stereotyped subject images
This is reflected in their subject choices.
What did Leonard (2006) find about girls in all-girls schools?
They were more likely to take maths and science A Levels
Boys in all-boys schools were more likely to take English and languages.
What is the relationship between gender and employment?
Employment is highly gendered
Women are concentrated in a narrow range of occupations.
How does social class impact vocational choices?
Working class girls often aim for hair and beauty or childcare
This reflects their working class habitus.
What is a double standard in sexual morality?
Applying different moral standards to boys and girls
Boys may boast about exploits while girls face negative labels.
What does Connell identify as a way to reinforce gender identities?
A rich vocabulary of verbal abuse
Boys often use name-calling to assert dominance.
What is the ‘male gaze’ as described by Mac an Ghaill?
The way male pupils and teachers view girls as sexual objects
This reinforces heterosexual masculinity.
How do male teachers reinforce gender identity according to Haywood and Mac an Ghaill?
They discipline boys for ‘behaving like girls’ but ignore verbal abuse
This perpetuates traditional gender roles.
What did Willis find about boys in anti-school subcultures?
They were labeled as gay or effeminate for wanting to do well
This reflects peer pressure to conform to masculinity.
What did Archer find about working class girls and identity?
They gain symbolic capital from performing a hyper-heterosexual identity
This is crucial for their peer acceptance.
What tension did Ringrose (2013) find among working class girls?
Tension between idealized feminine identity and sexualized identity
This affects their social dynamics and peer relationships.
What overarching factor is considered most influential in education?
Social class
It interacts with gender and ethnicity in shaping educational outcomes.
