GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ACHIEVEMENT Flashcards
What percentage of girls gained A or B grades at A-level in 2013?
46.8% of girls gained A or B grades at A-level in 2013, compared to 42.2% of boys.
How do girls perform on vocational courses compared to boys?
A larger proportion of girls achieve distinctions in every subject, including those like engineering and construction.
What is feminism?
Feminism is a social movement striving for equal rights for women in all areas of life.
How has feminism impacted women’s expectations?
Feminism has raised women’s expectations and self-esteem, leading to improved educational achievements.
What did Angela McRobbie’s study of girls’ magazines reveal?
In the 1970s, magazines emphasized marriage; today, they feature assertive, independent women.
What significant legal changes have occurred regarding women’s employment?
The 1970 Equal Pay Act and the 1975 Discrimination Act have improved women’s rights at work.
What has happened to the pay gap between men and women since 1975?
The pay gap has halved from 30% to 15% since 1975.
How has the proportion of women in employment changed from 1971 to 2013?
The proportion of women in employment rose from 53% in 1971 to 67% in 2013.
What did Sue Sharpe’s interviews reveal about girls’ ambitions?
Girls’ ambitions shifted from prioritizing marriage and family in the 1970s to focusing on careers in the 1990s.
What is the ‘glass ceiling’?
The glass ceiling is the invisible barrier that keeps women out of high-level professional and managerial jobs.
What did Stephen Gorard find about the gender gap in achievement?
Gorard found that the introduction of GCSEs and coursework increased the gender gap in achievement.
Why are girls more successful in coursework according to Mitsos and Browne?
Girls are more conscientious, organized, and better at meeting deadlines than boys.
How do teachers’ interactions with boys and girls differ?
Boys receive more attention but also more reprimands, while girls are seen as more cooperative.
What impact do exam league tables have on girls’ opportunities?
High-achieving girls are attractive to schools, leading to better opportunities and outcomes.
What do liberal feminists believe about girls’ achievement?
Liberal feminists celebrate progress and believe further improvements will come from equal opportunities policies.
What do radical feminists emphasize regarding girls’ achievement?
Radical feminists argue that the education system remains patriarchal and limits girls’ opportunities.
What is ‘symbolic violence’ according to Bourdieu?
Symbolic violence is the harm done by denying someone symbolic capital, defining their culture as worthless.
What dilemma do working-class girls face regarding their identities?
They must choose between conforming to a hyper-heterosexual identity or pursuing educational success.
What is the primary reason for the gender gap in boys’ literacy?
Boys have poorer literacy and language skills, partly due to less reading time with parents.
What impact has globalisation had on traditional men’s jobs?
The decline in heavy industries has led to an identity crisis for men, affecting boys’ motivation.
What does Tony Sewell mean by the ‘feminisation of education’?
He claims that education celebrates qualities associated with girls, neglecting masculine traits.
What is the impact of ‘laddish’ subcultures on boys’ achievement?
Boys may reject schoolwork to avoid being labeled as ‘swots’, which undermines their academic performance.
What subjects do boys and girls typically choose at A-level?
Boys tend to choose Maths and Physics, while girls are more likely to choose languages and sociology.
What gendered subject choices are observed at A levels?
Boys tend to choose maths and physics, while girls opt for subjects like sociology, English, and languages.
What did the Institute of Physics find about A-level physics students?
The proportion of A-level physics students who are girls has been around 20% for over 20 years.
What is gender role socialisation?
It is the process of learning the behaviour expected of males and females in society.
How do teachers influence gender role socialisation?
Teachers encourage boys to be tough and assertive, while girls are expected to be quiet and helpful.
What differences in reading preferences are observed between boys and girls?
Boys tend to read hobby books and information texts, while girls are more likely to read stories about people.
What are gender domains?
Gender domains are tasks and activities that boys and girls see as relevant to their own gender.
How do gender domains affect confidence in tasks?
Girls are more confident in tasks related to food and nutrition, while boys are more confident in tasks about cars.
What is the impact of gendered subject images?
The gender image of a subject influences who chooses it, with science often seen as a boys’ subject.
Why is computer studies seen as a masculine subject?
It involves working with machines and is taught in a way that is off-putting to females.
What effect does single-sex schooling have on subject choices?
Pupils in single-sex schools tend to hold less stereotyped subject images and make less traditional subject choices.
What did Diana Leonard find about girls in single-sex schools?
They were more likely to take maths and science A levels compared to girls in mixed schools.
What is the significance of gendered career opportunities?
Employment is highly gendered, with jobs often sex-typed as ‘men’s’ or ‘women’s’.
How does sex-typing of occupations affect subject choice?
It influences boys’ and girls’ perceptions of what jobs are possible or acceptable.
What is a double standard in gender identity?
It refers to applying different moral standards to boys and girls regarding sexual behaviour.
What is the ‘male gaze’?
It describes how male pupils and teachers view girls as sexual objects, reinforcing dominant masculinity.
How do male peer groups reinforce masculinity?
They use verbal abuse to define masculinity and label boys who perform well academically as ‘gay’ or ‘effeminate’.
What shift in masculine identity is observed from lower school to sixth form?
The dominant definition of masculinity shifts from toughness to intellectual ability.
How do teachers reinforce gender identity?
Male teachers may reprimand boys for ‘behaving like girls’ and ignore boys’ verbal abuse towards girls.
What protective behaviour do male teachers exhibit towards female colleagues?
They may intervene to ‘rescue’ female colleagues, reinforcing the idea that women cannot cope alone.
