Gender and Subject choice: Gender identity and schools Flashcards
Ann Oakley (1973)
Channeling
Oakley uses the term canalisation to refer to the way in which girls and boys are ‘channelled’ down different gender routes in early childhood.
> Girls learn how to be feminine, whereas boys learn to be masculine.
Girls play with more dolls, resulting in them taking subjects like health and social care
Boys play with more creative toys or physical activities, resulting in them picking subjects like PE.
EVALUATION:
> There is some evidence of a ‘shift’ taking place as females are beginning to choose more male-based subjects.
What are gender domains?
The term gender domains refer to the tasks and activities that boys and girls see as male or female ‘territory’.
> Mending a car is seen as a male role, whereas looking after a sick child is a women’s job.
Gendered subject images
Anne Colley (1998)
Colley looks at the subject image of computer science. She claims that it is seen as a ‘masculine’ role since it involves working with machines.
> Computer limits group work, which attracts many females.
EVALUATION:
> Subjects have worked hard over the years to re-brand and appear more gender neutral
> This hopes to dispel the myth of this subject only being for males.
Martin Mac an Ghali (1996)
male gaze
Mac a Gahli found that working class ‘macho lads’ in his study were dismissive of boys who worked hard and aspi9red to achieve.
> He says males see females in certain ways, this is called the ‘male gaze’, males look girls up and down and see them as sexual objects.
Time with friends often includes talking about sexual scenarios with females, boys who do not are seen as gay.
Boys and their gender identity:
Judging sexual behaviour
> Boys see sexual activity with females as desirable and a means of achieving status.
Boys boast about the number of people they have slept with, lying about whether they’ve lost their virginity or not.
Boys and their gender identity:
The ‘male gaze’
> Boys often use their body language to control girls. Boys exaggerate seeing girls as sexual objects.
Boys who don’t join in are easily seen as gay or not one of the lads.
Boys and their gender identity:
Boys, teachers and discipline
Male teachers often joke around with male students, whilst not so much with females.
> Teachers have much lower expectations of boys’ achievement, and are more willing to accept lower-quality work.
Girls and their gender identity:
Female peer groups
Research shows females are too easily policed by each other’s behaviour.
> Girls are often keen to impress other girls. This brings status and respect.
Having a boyfriend is often desirable in a female group and brings a degree of respect.
Carolyn Jackson (2006)
Jackon uses interviews and questionnaire responses with 203 pupils and 30 teachers across 8 schools, exploring how gender identity is formed within the school.
> In 21at century schools, girls tend to model their behaviour and attitudes on the stereotypical ‘laddish’ behaviour that is expected of boys.
> A means of being cool is to cushion failure and underachievement.
