gender differences in education Flashcards
upon starting school how are girls achieving more than boys
2013- assessments =, girls ahead between 7-17 percentage points, all aspects. girls better communication + concentrating
at key stages 1 to 3 evidence of girls achieving more
girls consistently
statistics of boys having statement of special needs
starting school, boys 2.5 times more likely to have statement of special education need
statistics of girls achieving more at GCSE
gender gap of 10 percentage points
statistics of girls achieving more at AS and A level
more likely pass, sit, higher grade. 2013 46.8% girls = A/B grade compared to 42.2% even at boy labelled subject
statistics of girls achieving more at vocational subject
more girls achieve distinctions even at construction where girls are a minority
what were aspirations of girls before feminism
Mc Robbie’s 1970 - study of magazines importance was marriage, not left on shelf, nowadays, importance of dominance + independence
impact of feminism on culture
girls no longer have aspirations of being a housewife, but to be career driven + independent
how does a change in family increase girls achievement
examples of changes in family structure
- divorce increase
-cohabitation increase
-lone - parent family increase
-smaller families
how does an increase in divorce rate make women more career driven
women must build independence in finance, as men are not needed for coping financially - qualifications
how do smaller families help women become more career driven + women childbearing later in age
less childbearing means that women are socialising children shorter so they can build their careers, careers can develop before kids - qualifications
how does an increase in lone- parent family increase women in employment
women must provide the role of the breadwinner and homemaker to provide money to children - qualifications
how does a change of location help women to have more modern values
away from traditional views of family - can hold a understanding view of current culture
Equal Pay Act - date? how does it make women more equal
1970 EPA - illegal to pay women than men for work of same value
Sex Discrimination Act - Date? what are statistical changes from 1975 in the pay gap
1975 - pay gap decreased from 30% to 15% still not equal
what is the proportion of women in work + dates
from 53% in 1971 to 63% in 2012
what were the differences of aspirations in interviews with girls (sociologist) from different timepoints
sharpe - interviews 1970s - 1990s
1974- education success = unfeminine + unattractive
1990s - career driven, independent men = useless
what is the trend towards individualisation in modern society (sociologist)
Beck + Beck- Gernsheim - independence valued. A career is part of women life project , it promises economic self-sufficiency
why was educational success part of girls identity (sociologist)
they are creators of own futures, so they need qualifications = meritocracy, individualised notion of self
why do some girls continue to have traditional views of the past + how its linked to class (sociologist)
Reay - limited aspirations reflect limited job opportunity they perceive available
- mothers may not work - gendered socialisation
what may girls see as the only viable option for their futures (sociologist)
biggart. motherhood may be only viable option
how does mainstream thinking affect policies + examples of policies
boys and girls are entitled to same opportunities = influences policies e.g GIST + WISE
what is GIST and WISE and how do they influence girls
female scientists visit schools as role models, non-sexist career advice
how did they introduction of the National Curriculum (date) cause girls reduce gender inequality
1988 - NC made girls + boys study same subject - compulsory
who sees the change in policies giving an equal opportunity and why
Boaler sees it as improving inequality as education system is becoming more meritocratic - girls work harder
how do positive role models in school cause girls to achieve
increase in female teachers + heads, shows girls women can be of position in power, to become teacher must have qualification
how have the ways knowledge is assessed favoured girls and not boys (date of change)+ sociologist
Gorard - gender gap constant from 1975 until 1989, when coursework added
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sociologists that support of Gorard that coursework has caused girls to achieve more
mitsos + browne girls better because they’re conscientious + organised, manage deadlines
how do oral exams cause girls to achieve better than boys
girls better communication - bedroom culture
why do girls benefit from coursework
early socialisation, girls taught to be tidy, neat, patient
a sociologist who criticises coursework being the reason in gap in achievement
elwood- coursework unlikely to be cause of gap, exams have bigger influence on grades
sociologists who observed teacher-student interactions + findings
jane + french analysed classroom interactions
boys got more attention, attracted reprimands
sociologist discovered pattern in teacher and boys interactions causing gap
although, boys got more attention, disciplined more harshly + felt picked on teachers - lower expectations
what sociologist found difference in communication styles in classrooms
boys = dominating whole class discussion
girls =pair work + turn taking
why may teachers teach boys more harshly based on their communication type
girls speech involves turn taking, not hostile interruptions of boys. girls = more cooperative so positive interacitons
why may teachers teach boys more harshly based on their communication type
girls speech involves turn taking, not hostile interruptions of boys. girls = more cooperative so positive interactions
sociologist arguing challenging of stereotypes increased achievement for girls
Weiner - since 1980s teachers challange stereotype = positive images of women ability
sociologist arguing challenging of stereotypes increased achievement for girls + why
Weiner - since 1980s teachers challenge stereotype = positive images of women ability
sociologist arguing introduction of league tables has improved opportunities for girls + how
Jackson - by cream-skimming girls are attractive to schools, whereas boys not. self fulfilling prophecy
sociologist stating how selection negatively affects boys
slee - boys likely to suffer from behavioural difficulty and so are seen as liability to league tables to school 4xmore likely to be excluded
what are liberal feminists views on the process of improvement + policies imporoving
good progress . further progress will be made by continuing development of equal opportunities in policies + overcoming stereotypes
what are radical feminisms views on the process of improving policies + gaps
critical view. education system remains patriarchal
- sexual harassment exists in schools
- education limits girls subject choices
- male teachers more likely to have higher positions of power
- women ignored in curriculum e.g contribution to history
looking at intersectionality - WC girls achieving less statistic
2012 only 40.6% girls eligible for free school meals achieved 5 A-C whereas 67.5% not on FSM got 5 A-C grades
why may WC girls fail according to feminist Archer
conflict of WC identities + ethos of schools. Girls gained symbolic capital with feminine identity from peers but prevented gaining educational capital + economic capital
why is having hyper-heterosexual feminine identities a problem for WC girls to gain qualifications
constructed glamorous feminine identity, symbolic capital from peers but conflict with school MC values. - jewellery, makeup. symbolic violence
how do boyfriends affect educational achievement
boyfriends= gain symbolic capital but lowered aspirations, wanted to settle down + work feminine jobs
what is the WC girls dilemma
balance between symbolic capital (conforming to peers) or educational capital (rejecting WC identity)
sociologist study stating why WC girls want to achieve higher education
Evans - 21 WC girls, south London comprehensive schools, girls aspirated to go to HE, for their family not for themselves
what sociologist calls WC girls identity as caring, supporting Evans study of why girls want to go to HE
Skeggs - WC girls see being caring as imp part of identity
how is lack of economic capital a barrier to girls achieving in university
-debt
- cant move away, limits choice of university
-caring aspect- benefit in staying at home
