gender differences in achievement - external factors

Question 1

starting school

Answer 1

girls do better on baseline tests

girls are better at concentrating

boys are 2.5 times more likely to have sen

Question 2

key stage 1 - 3

Answer 2

girls do much better in maths, english and science

english gender gap widens with age

Question 3

gcse

Answer 3

gender gap about 10 percentage points

Question 4

a level

Answer 4

girls more likely to pass and get a*- b - 53% to 49.8% in 2019

Question 5

vocational courses

Answer 5

more girls gain distinctions in every subject

even male dominated subjects

Question 6

the impact of feminism

Answer 6

the feminist movement has improved the rights of women as well as raising women’s expectations, self-esteem & motivation. women are no longer strictly bound to the mother/ housewife role.

although feminists would argue that true equality with males has not been fully achieved, many would agree that the position of women has greatly improved (particularly since the 1960s) & continues to do so

mcrobbie (1994) - magazines such as jackie in the 1970s emphasised the importance of getting married, whereas nowadays priorities have changed & women are faced with more positive role models in the media.

Question 7

changes in the family

Answer 7

increase in divorce rate

increase in cohabitation

increase in lone-parent families (usually female headed)

decline in marriage rate

decreasing family size decline in birth rate

changes affect girls’ attitudes to education.

women may need to support their families.

women are not willing to be supported by a man.

Question 8

changes in women’s employment

Answer 8

the 1970 equal pay act -makes it illegal to pay one sex more than another for work of equal value - pay gap halved.

the 1975 sex discrimination act - prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace - the number of women in employment went up from 53% in 1971 to 67% 2013

some women are breaking through the ‘glass ceiling’.

francis (2001) - interviewed girls about their career aspirations & concluded that, due to increased employment opportunities, females have become extremely ambitious & aim for ‘high professions’ such as doctors & solicitors.

Question 9

girls’ changing ambitions

Answer 9

girls’ ambitions are becoming more career-oriented.

sharpe (1994) - study shows changes to girls’ aspirations from 1970s to 1990s.

o’connor (2006) - marriage and children not major life plans.

beck & beck - gernsheim (2001) - individualisation means value is placed on achievement and self-sufficiency

fuller (2011): education central to identity

Question 10

class, gender and ambition

Answer 10

changing ambition not true for all girls:

working-class girls still tend to have more gendered aspirations

reay (1998) - ambitions linked to opportunities available

biggart (2002) - working-class girls more likely to have motherhood as
an option