gender differences in achievement - internal factors

Question 1

equal opportunities policies

Answer 1

impact of feminism within the education system

teachers need to ensure both genders have equal opportunities
policies:
- gist and wise - to encourage girls to pursue non-traditional
careers
- national curriculum - all students study same subjects

boaler (1998) - equal opportunities policies key in changing girls’
achievement.

Question 2

positive role models in schools

Answer 2

there has been and increase in the proportion of female teachers and heads

women in senior positions give girls role models, showing them they can achieve positions of importance

1992 - 22% of heads are female in secondary schools
2020 - 40% of heads are female in secondary schools

1992 - 50% of heads are female in primary schools
2020 - 74% of heads are female in primary schools

1992 - 49% of teachers are female in secondary schools
2020 - 66% of teachers are female in secondary schools

1992 - 81% of teachers are female in primary schools
2020 - 87% of teachers are female in primary schools

Question 3

gcses and coursework

Answer 3

assessments favour girls

gorard (2005) - increased gender gap when gcse introduced in 1989.

mitsos & browne (1998) - girls more successful in coursework and spend more time, take care, meet deadlines and are equipped for lessons

oral exams benefit girls, who have better linguistic skills

girls socialised to be neat, tidy and patient.

ellwood (2005) - girls’ improvement not just coursework because still a focus on exams

Question 4

teacher attention

Answer 4

french & french (1993) - boys get more attention, but this is negative

francis (2001) - boys more attention, but more harshly disciplined, low teacher expectations

swann (1998) - different communication style, boys dominant in whole class, girls prefer paired or small group

teachers see girls as cooperative and so give more positive attention - leading to self-fulfilling prophecy

Question 5

challenging stereotypes

Answer 5

changes to textbooks, reading schemes, learning materials.

women no longer seen as purely housewives and mothers.

weiner (1995) - teachers challenge stereotypes, sexist images removed.

Question 6

views of girls’ achievement:

liberal feminists

Answer 6

celebrate progress made

further progress from equal opportunities policies

Question 7

views of girls achievement:

radical feminists

Answer 7

system is patriarchal

sexual harassment in schools

girls’ limited subject and careers choices

more male secondary heads

women ignored in curriculum - e.g. history (compare to ethnocentric)