gender and education (I+E) Flashcards
what are the 6 internal factors of gender in education?
-equal opportunities
-role models
-GCSE and coursework
-teacher attention
-challenging stereotypes
-league tables/selection
what is meant by equal opportunities as an internal factor?
-government policies that encourage girls to take part in traditionally male subjects, eg GIST and WISE
-national curriculum means girls and boys have to study the same core subjects
-Boaler suggests these are the main reasons for changes in girls achievement, as they removed barriers
what is meant by role models as an internal factor?
-increase in female head teachers and senior teachers in the last 20 years
-shows girls they can achieve positions of power too
how would liberal feminists evaluate both ‘role models’ and ‘equal opportunities’ factors?
they celebrate the progress that has been made but believe there is still work to be done
see the need for more equal opportunity policies, more positive role models etc
what is meant by ‘GCSE and coursework’ as an internal factor?
-Gorard noted that once coursework was introduced girls began to outperform boys
-Mitsos and Browne suggest girls are more successful in coursework because they are more conscientious and organised
what is meant by ‘teacher attention’ as an internal factor?
-Peter and Jane French - teachers interact differently to boys and girls, boys get more attention but it’s negative, and also tend to dominate class discussion
-negative interaction could explain why teachers respond more positively to girls, which could lead to self-fulfilling prophecy
what is meant by ‘challenging sterotypes’ as an internal factors?
-removal of gender stereotypes from textbooks etc has removed a barrier
-Weiner shows there’s been significant textbook changes since 1980’s, leading to greater achievement in girls
what is meant by ‘league tables/selection’ as an internal factor?
-girls are more likely to achieve better grades, so league tables has made them more desirable
-Slee - boys are 4x more likely to be excluded which would reflect badly on the school
-Jackson - links girls high achievement to the self-fulfilling prophecy, as league tables created higher female expectations
how would radical feminists evaluate the latter 4 internal factors? (GCSE, attention, stereotypes and league tables)
-recognise that girls re achieving more but emphasise this is in spite of the patriarchy rather than due to major changes
-1/3 of 16-18 y/o girls said they’ve experienced unwanted sexual touching in school
-women are very underrepresented in the curriculum (Weiner calls history a women free zone)
-still many more men in positions of authority, especially in secondary schools
-still genderisation of subjects
what are the 4 external factors of gender and education?
-feminism
-changes in the family
-changes in women’s employment
-changing girl’s ambitions
what is meant by ‘feminism’ as an external factor?
-feminist movement improved women’s rights, as well as raising self-esteem and expectations
-women are no longer bound to the role of being a mother/housewife
-Sue Sharpe - interviewed girls about their career aspirations, concluded that females have become increasingly ambitious due to employment opportunities
what is meant by ‘changes in the family’ as an external factor?
-primary socialisation has changed from telling girls they have to be mothers/nurturing etc
-more lone parent families that are led by women, or dual earning parents
-‘bedroom culture’ = quiet, reading, submissive (ideal pupil)
what is meant by ‘changes in women’s employment’ as an external factor?
-Mitsos + Browne 1998 - highlight how the growing economy has created more ‘feminised’ career opportunities
-equal pay act opened more opportunities
-changes have encouraged girls to have a more aspirational future and financial independence
-aspirations to get these jobs push girls to do well
what is meant by ‘changing girl’s ambitions’ as an external factor?
-decline of traditional gender roles
-individualisation - Beck and Beck Genshiem - independence is highly regarded as it gains recognition and status
-girls now recognise the need for a good education to take them far
evaluate the external factors of gender and education
-glass ceiling and pay gap still exist
-traditional gender roles still exist in regards to motherhood
-myth of meritocracy
-diane ray - class gender and ambition
