girls and external factors

Question 1

external factors

Answer 1

Impact of feminism
Changes in the family
Changes in women’s employment
Girls changing attitudes

Question 2

key sociologist behind impact of feminism

Answer 2

McRobbie

Question 3

impact of feminism

Answer 3

Since the 1960s, the feminist movement has challenged the traditional stereotype that women should be housewives, This has helped raise women’s expectations of themselves and their self-esteem. Women are no longer expected to settle for the housewife role. This is backed up by McRobbie who compared editions of the girl’s magazine ‘Jackie’ from the 1970s and 1990s. In the 1970s they emphasised the importance of marriage, whereas in the 1970s they emphasised independent women. The changes encouraged by feminism may affect girls’ self-image and ambitions about their careers, this leads to more focus on education and explains the improvement in their educational achievement.

Question 4

changes in the family

Answer 4

Major changes in the family structure mean that women are now seen as the breadwinner and financially independent. For example, 90% of single-parent families are headed by women, meaning more women have to take on a breadwinner role. This, in turn, creates a new adult role model for girls - the financially independent woman, and to achieve this independence, women need well-paid jobs that make them need good qualifications. This encourages girls to invest more in the education system to ensure they can fulfil this role.

Question 5

changes in women employment

Answer 5

There have been major changes in women’s employment in recent decades. Such as the 1970 Equal Rights Act which made it illegal to pay women less than men for work of equal value. As a result, there has been a rise in women being employed as of 2022 72.3% of women aged 16-64 are in some form of employment(ONS 2022). More women are in managerial positions and are breaking through the glass ceiling. These changes encourage girls to see a future in paid work rather than as housewives which provides them with an incentive to gain qualifications

Question 6

stat to suggest that changes in women’s employment has impacted girls

Answer 6

as of 2022 72.3% of women aged 16-64 are in some form of employment(ONS 2022)

Question 7

sociologist behind girls changing attitudes

Answer 7

Sue Sharpe

Question 8

girls changing attitudes

Answer 8

Changes in the family and employment are producing changes in girls’ achievement. This is backed up by Sue Sharpe and her study ‘Just Like a Girl’: How Girls Learn to be Women’. Sharpe interviewed schoolgirls in 1974 and found that 67% of the girls interviewed wanted to leave school at 16. They had low aspirations and prioritised love, marriage and children. She repeated the interviews with school girls in 1994. By this time, priorities had completely changed 67% of the girls wanted to stay on in education until at least 18. Their career was now a top priority and so was educational success.