Gender

Question 1

Do girls always do better than boys

Answer 1

No, there are still class divides in girls grades. Archer et al argues w/c girls gain and ‘hyper heterosexual feminine identity’ from peers by having a boyfriend and being loud, therefore, pulling them away from school work and decreasing grades. 
The dilemma is: educational capital vs symbolic capital (do well in school or focus on social life)

Question 2

What factors explain gendered subject choice

Answer 2

1. Gender role socialisation
2. Gender domains
3. Gendered subject images
4. Peer pressure
5. Career opportunities

Question 3

What’s gendered role socialisation

Answer 3

Byrne argues teachers encourage boys to act like leaders and be louder, and for girls to be quiet and helpful, therefore, from a very young age, children are also socialised into stereotypes

Question 4

What are gender domains

Answer 4

Browne and Ross argue children instinctually feel more comfortable and confident engaging in tasks that fit their gender domain.
Murphy adds girls tend to focus on how people feel and boys focus on how things work

Question 5

What’s gendered subject images

Answer 5

Kelly argues science is seen as a more boys subject because:
1. Teachers are likely to be men
2. Boys dominate practical tasks
3. It engages with more boys interests
Leonard found, in an all girls school, girls were more likely to do maths and science and boys more likely to take English and languages in an all boys school

Question 6

What’s peer pressure in gender choices

Answer 6

Boys and girls will lean toward subjects their friends encourage them to do or are doing themselves.
Paechter found sports is a more male gendered domain and sporty girls struggle with overcoming stereotypes contradicting their ability because of their sex

Question 7

What’s career opportunities in gender

Answer 7

Jobs are ‘sex typed’. ‘Womens jobs’ are often suited to typical housewife jobs. The majority of women are in clerical, secretarial or personal service jobs.

Question 8

What are external factors explaining gender and achievement

Answer 8

1. Impact of feminism
2. Changes in womens employment
3. Legal changes
4. Changing role of women
5. Out of schools activities
6. A feminised economy

Question 9

What are internal structures explaining gender and achievement

Answer 9

1. Teacher labelling
2. Educational policies
3. Literacy
4. Pupil subcultures

Question 10

What do radical and liberal feminists believe about education

Answer 10

Radical: wholly patriarchal; even though teaching is seen as a female job, high positions are held by men

Liberal: sees and acknowledge ps improvements made to create a more meritocratic education system