Gender Differences in Achievement - Gender and Subject Choice

Question 1

What percentage of construction apprentices are female?

Answer 1

1%.

Question 2

How is gender differences in subject choice explained?

Answer 2

1) . Early socialisation and gender domains.
2) . Gendered subject images.
3) . Gender identity and peer pressure.
4) . Gendered career opportunities.

Question 3

Who discusses gender role socialisation?

Answer 3

1) . Norman (1988).
2) . Byrne (1979).
3) . Murphy and Elwood (1998).

Question 4

What does Norman note about gendered socialisation?

Answer 4

Boys and girls are socialised to =

• dress differently.
• given different toys.
• take part in different activities.

Question 5

What did Byrne find about gendered socialisation?

Answer 5

Boys =

not behave like sissies, or be weak.

Girls =

expected to be quiet, helpful and clean/tidy.

Question 6

What did Murphy and Elwood find about the differences in reading during socialisation?

Answer 6

Boys =

• read hobby books.
• likely to enjoy science.

Girls =

• read stories about people.
• likely to prefer English.

Question 7

Who discussed gender domains?

Answer 7

1) . Browne and Ross (1991).

2) . Murphy (1991).

Question 8

What did Browne and Ross find about gender domains?

Answer 8

These develop during socialisation (gender-role stereotypes) =

• more confident when engaging in own gender domain.

Question 9

What did Murphy find about gender domains?

Answer 9

Girls =

• focus more on how people feel.
• why they choose humanities and art.

Boys =

• focus on how things are made.
• why they choose science.

Question 10

Who says computer studies is seen as a masculine subject?

Answer 10

Colley (1998).

Question 11

What did Leonard (2006) find in relation to single-sex schooling?

Answer 11

Girls in girls’ schools =

• more likely to take science A levels.

Boys in boys’ schools =

• more likely to take English and languages.

Question 12

What does Peachter (1998) say the reason is for girls opting out of sport?

Answer 12

Because its seen as a boys gender domain =

• contradicts female stereotypes.

Question 13

What did Fuller (2011) find about girls choosing jobs that reflect their habitus?

Answer 13

More likely to take vocational courses of:

• childcare.
• hair and beauty.

Question 14

What sociologists discussed gender and subject choice?

Answer 14

1) . Norman (1988) =
- given different toys, clothes, etc.
2) . Byrne (1979) =
- boys encouraged to be tough, girls = tidy.
3) . Murphy and Elwood (1998) =
- types of books led to subject choice.
4) . Browne and Ross (1991) =
- gender domains shaped by socialisation.
5) . Murphy (1991) =
- gender domains.
6) . Colley (1998) =
- computer studies is masculine.
7) . Leonard (2006) =
- single-sex schooling.
8) . Paechter (1998) =
- girls opting out of sport.
9) . Fuller (2011) =
- vocational studies reflect habitus.