explanations for gendered subject choice

Question 1

name the main explanations for gendered subject choices

Answer 1

1) early socialisation
2) gender subject images
AND peer pressure
AND gender career opportunities

Question 2

how do pupils schools reinforce their Gender sexual identities / how do experiences in school act as a form of social control ?

Answer 2

1) verbal abuse
2) teachers
3) the male gaze
4) double standards
5) female peer groups- policing identity

Question 3

pupils schools reinforce their Gender sexual identities
what does Connell argue about this?

Answer 3

Connell argues school reproduces a ‘hegemonic masculinity’ the dominance of heterosexual masculine identity and subordination of females and gay identities.

Question 4

How does early socialisation impact gendered subject choice ?

Answer 4

1) Boys and girls are treated differently through being given different toys.
2) take part in different activities-this channels their development into different subjects areas.
3)girls are expected to be quiet, passive and tidy. Boys are encouraged to be more tough, rough and noisy.
4) boys prefer reading hobby books and informational texts where as girls prefer reading stories about people this explains why girls excel in English lit but boys stereotypically in stem.
5) children feel more confident in their gender domain.

Question 5

How does gendered subject image impact explanations for gender subject choice ? (seeing something as either male or female) refer to Kelly and Leonard

Answer 5

1)Kelly argues science is typically seen as a male subject as the teachers are male. textbooks often draw on boys experiences. Boys monopolise the lab and equipment as if it’s theirs.
2)Leonard found pupil at single sex school make less traditional subject choices, analysing data of 13,000 students- girls in same sex schools were more likely to take maths and science A-level. And in boys schools more likely to take English and modern languages.

Question 6

How does peer pressure explain gender subject choice ?
Refer to Paetcher

Answer 6

1) Boys and girls may disapprove of an individuals choice and this negative response can be very influential.
2) Paetcher found that pupils saw sport as a male gender domain and females who participated contradicted traditional stereotypes. This is an explanation for girls opting out of sports early on.

Question 7

How do gender career opportunities explain gendered subject choice ?

Answer 7

1)employement is highly gendered 50% of womens occupations is categorised into 4 areas : clerical, secretarial, personal services and occupations eg cleaning.
2) Men are less likely to become nurses and nursery teachers as its ‘feminine’.

Question 8

name some statistics of gendered subject choices

Question 9

name the top 5 degrees for females

Answer 9

medicine ailed subjects
social sciences and psychology
vetinary science
education
creative art and design

Question 10

name the top 5 degrees for males

Answer 10

engineering
computing
architecture
physical sciences
mathematical science