Gender: Education Flashcards
Internal reasons why girls achieve better than boys:
Positive role models - more female teachers and scientists going in to schools means girls encouraged to pursue careers in non traditional areas
Equal opportunities policies - National Curriculum (1989) meant all students had to sit GCSEs. Kelly (1987) states making boys and girls study same subjects helps to equalise opportunities
External reasons why girls achieve better than boys:
Changes in ambition - Francis (2001) found girls had higher career aspirations that needed educational qualifications
Impact of feminism - McRobbie (1994) - since 1960s feminists challenged patriarchy in all areas of social life and rejected traditional stereotypes of women
Reasons why working class girls are less successful in education system: symbolic capital
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External reasons why girls achieve better than boys:
Changes in ambition
Sue Sharpe (1994) compared girls priorities: in 1970 cared about love, marriage, husband, children, job, career whereas in 1990s priorities had switched to careers and being able to be independent
Francis (2001) found girls had aspirations that needed educational qualifications
External reasons why girls achieve better than boys:
Impact of feminism
McRobbie (1994) - since the 1960s feminists have challenged patriarchy in all areas of social life and rejected the traditional stereotypes of women as inferior to men
External reasons why girls achieve better than boys:
Changes in employment
Equal Pay act (1970)
Sex discrimination act (1975)
Employment opportunities wider
External reasons why girls achieve better than boys:
Changes in family
Since 1970s increase in divorce rates - 40% marriages end in divorce and increase in lone parent families - over 90% are female headed
Internal reasons for girls achievements:
Positive role models
More female teachers and female scientists that go into schools means there are more role models to pursue careers in non-traditional areas
Internal reasons for girls achievements:
Equal opportunity policies
National Curriculum (1989) following Education Reform Act under Thatcher in 1988 meant all students had to sit core exams GCSEs
Kelly (1987) making girls and boys study the same subjects helps to equalise opportunities
Boaler (1998) claims EOP key reason for the changes in girls achievement as they help to achieve meritocracy
Internal reasons for girls achievements:
Marketisation
League tables (1989) drives up standards as schools have incentive to recruit more able students in order to boost results and league table position
Internal reasons for girls achievements:
Positive teacher labelling
Labelling leads girls wanting to live up to good expectations
Becker argues girls are the ‘ideal pupil’
Internal reasons for girls achievements:
Challenging stereotypes
Role models encourage girls to pursue careers in non-traditional areas thus removes stereotypes in schools
Non sexist career advice provided
Self fulfilling prophecy from teachers promotes girls self esteem
External reasons for boys underachievement:
Impact of feminism + changes to family
Males no longer expected to be the main breadwinner
Sewell (2006) argues boys fall behind because education has become ‘feminised’. Schools no longer nurture ‘masculine’ traits e.g. Leadership and competitiveness
External reasons for boys underachievement:
Decline of manual jobs
Loss of manual work in key regions of the country has led to a decrease of aspiration e.g. Willis’ lads would find it hard to find work without qualifications
Mitos and Browne claim that the result of decline in male employment opportunities has led to a male ‘identity crisis’ due to the decline in heavy industries - many boys now believe they have little prospect of getting jobs
External reasons for boys underachievement:
Higher levels of female headed single parent families
Could result in a lack of role models
Over 60% of 8-11 have no lessons with male primary teachers - idea that education is a feminine activity
