Gender Differences in Achievement (Girls) (Internal) Flashcards
What internal factors can explain girls’ achievement?
- Equal opportunities policies
- Positive role models in schools
- the curriculum
- Teacher attention and classroom interaction
- Challenging stereotypes in the curriculum
- Selection and league tables
What policies have been introduced to increase equal opportunities for girls?
- GIST and WISE.
- National Curriculum.
What is GIST and WISE for and how does it function?
GIST (girls into science and technology) and WISE (women into science and engineering) encourage girls to pursue careers in non-traditional areas. Female scientists have visited schools acting as role models, and efforts have been made to raise science teachers’ awareness of gender issues.
however what percentage of girls is in the engineering sector?
12
How has the National Curriculum increased equal opportunities?
The Introduction of the National Curriculum in 1988 removed one source of gender inequality by making girls and boys study the same subject.
What does Boaler say?
As a result of such policies, education is now more meritocratic. Now that girls have more equal opportunities than in the past, they are able to do better.
How has the increase of female role models led to girls’ achievement increasing?
They provide pro-educational role models for girls. It also ‘feminises’ the learning environment and encourages girls to see school as part of a female ‘gender domain’. As a result, they come to perceive educational success as a desirable feminine characteristic.
however role male teacher normallly occupy at school?
head teacher
What did Mitsos and Browne find ?
Girls do better than boys in coursework because they are more conscientious and better organised. Girls mature earlier and can concentrate for longer. As a result, coursework boosted girls’ exam results.
however what was removed from most gcse?
course work
What does Elwood argue?
Although coursework has some influence, it is unlikely to be the only cause of the gender gap because exams determine more on final grades.
What did Francis find?
Although boys received more attention, they were disciplined more harshly and felt teachers picked on them and had lower expectations of them.
How has gender stereotyping in textbooks and learning materials changed since the 1980s?
During the 1980s, females were both under-represented and were portrayed as subordinate to males, in domestic roles or unsuited to certain subjects such as science. Since then, many of these sexist images have been removed and replaced with more positive images of females.
How has the changing stereotypes in the curriculum led to girls’ achievement improving?
Changes girls perceptions of what women can do, and and thus raises their aspirations.
however who argues about the pariachal curriculum?
heaton and lawson
