Gender // Subject Choice

Question 1

what are the 5 explanations for gender differences in subject choice

Answer 1

• early socialisation
• gender domains
• gendered subject images
• peer pressure
• gendered career opportunties

Question 2

what are the 3 MAIN explanations of gender differences in subject choice

Answer 2

• gendered subject images
• gendered career opportunities
• peer pressuee

Question 3

give 3 studies that support early socialisation as an explanation for gender differences in subject choice

Answer 3

Norman
Byrne
Murphy

Question 4

what is Normans study

Answer 4

boys and girls dressed differently given different toys and encouraged to take part in different activities so socialisation makes them choose diff subjects

Question 5

what is Byrnes study

Answer 5

teachers encourage boys to be tough and girls give quiet and tidy

Question 6

what is Murphy study

Answer 6

• asked primary and secondary pupils to design boats /vehicles
• boys designed battleships girls designed cruise ship
• girls focus on how ppl feel and boys focus on how things work

Question 7

say how gender domains explains gender differences in subject choice using a study

Answer 7

Browne and Ross; gender domains are tasks and activities children see as male or female territory
children more confident when in their gender domain due to relatability
in maths boys do better problem solving relating to cars and girls with health and nutrition

Question 8

say how gendered subject images explains gender differences in subject choice (using two studies )

Answer 8

• Kelly ; science seen as masculine as more male science teachers, textbooks show more boys; boys dominate science classrooms eg shout out answers
• Colley; ICT/ Computer Science seen as part of male gender domain as it is methodological and individual which appeals to boys

Question 9

evaluate gendered subject images as an explanation for differences in gender subject choice

Answer 9

• DFE found gendered subject image not to be a problem in same sex schools and it varies greatly in them; hold less stereotyped subject images
• Leonard ; girls schools more likely to take maths and sciences a levels and boys schools more likely to take english

Question 10

say how peer pressure explains gender differences in subject choice using 2 studies

Answer 10

• Paetcher ; girls who choose sport stigmatised as it is make gender domain and contradicts female stereotype
• Dewar ; girls labelled lesbian or butch if they took part in sport

Question 11

evaluate peer pressure as an explanation for gender differences in subject choice

Answer 11

-not seen as much in same sex schools

Question 12

say how gendered career opportunities explain gender differences in subject choice

Answer 12

female employment centred around : clerical, secretarial, personal services and cleaning work where men are 1/6 workers
males more involved in vocational manual courses

Question 13

evaluate gendered career opportunities as an explanation for gender differences in subject choice

Answer 13

Fuller studying w/c girls saw their ambitions to go into childcare or hair and beauty which reflected w/c expectations
more affected by social class than gender