Girls Career Aspirations

Question 1

Why have girls aspirations changed

Answer 1

• Rise of feminism
• Changes in employment
• Changing social attitudes
• Gender Socialisation

Question 2

Impact of changing aspirations on achievement

Answer 2

• More female role models in school - education dominated by females
• More educated female role models in society
• More encouragement for girls in schools
• increased motivation - greater competition for jobs as girls move into traditional male domains
• legislation has opened doors for girls in employment

Question 3

Evidence of changing aspirations

Answer 3

Sharpe - measured girls aspirations 18 years apart and found that career has replaced love as girls top priorities
- Francis - girls aspirations higher than boys aiming for professional employment
- McRobbie - a degree is now a basic requirement for girls in employment due to changing nature of work

Question 4

Evaluations

Answer 4

• Some areas still dominated by males - engineering, computing, physical sciences
• Little movement of male recruitment in female domains
• Differences based upon social class and ethnicity remain with some groups