gender differences in achievement - subject choice Flashcards
How does gender roles and socialisation cause gender differences in subject choice?
Norman
Early socialisation shapes a child’s gender identity, from an early age boys and girls are encouraged to dress differently, given different toys and encouraged to take part in different activities
How does school reinforce gender roles?
Byrne
Shows that teachers encourage boys to be tough and show initiative, girls are expected to be quiet, helpful, clean and tidy
What is meant by gender domains?
Browne & Ross
Children’s belief about gender domains is shaped by their early experiences and expectations of adults
Gender domains refers to the activities that boys and girls see as male or female territory
For example, mending a car is seen as the male gender domains
How does gendered subject images cause differences in subject choice?
Kelly
The gender image of a subject affects who will want to choose it
For example;
—science is seen as a boys subject because science teachers are more likely to be men
— the examples teachers use and those in textbooks often draw on boys attention rather than girls interests
— in science lessons, boys monopolise the apparatus and dominate the laboratory acting as if it’s theirs
Who supports the idea of gendered subject images?
Colley
Notes that computer science is seen as a masculine subject because;
— it involves working with machines, part of the male gender domain
— the way it’s taught it is off putting to women, tasks tend to be abstract and teaching styles formal with fewer opportunities for group work which girls favour
How is subject choice influenced by peer pressure?
Paetcher
Found that because pupils see sport as mainly within the male gender domain, girls who are sporty have to cope with an image that contradicts the conventional female stereotype, this explains why girls are more likely than boys to opt out sports
Who supports the view that peer pressure causes gender differences in subject choice?
Dewar
Study of American college students found that male students would call girls lesbian or butch if they appeared interested in sports
