Internal factors (gender + girls doing better)

Question 1

How has feminism changed schools in relation to gender differences in educational achievement (girls doing better)?

Answer 1

• more female teachers = more female positive role models which encourage success and hard work in girls
• textbooks have changed so that they no longer stereotype girls into passive roles, also encourages success + hard work

Question 2

How have policies changed schools in relation to gender differences in educational achievement (girls do better)?

Answer 2

• introduction of the national curriculum meant girls and boys had to study the same subjects e.g science and maths meaning girls now have equal opportunity (meritocracy)
• marketisation and league tables prefer girls to boys because they get better GCSE grades and so opportunities to get into better higher education in girls has increased, whereas boys are seen as less desirable and so top schools may want more girls than boys

Question 3

How has changes in the way pupils are assessed - GCSE’s and coursework - changed schools in relation to gender differences in educational achievement (girls do better)?

Answer 3

• Browne - girls are better at coursework
• girls are better organised
• girls meet deadlines better
• girls present coursework better
• girls spend more time on their work

Why?

socialisation of girls encourages them to be neat and tidy, etc

Question 4

How do Liberal feminists and Radical feminists view girls achievement in schools?

Answer 4

Liberal:
celebrate progress made so far - want to continue more female positive role models + feminisation of education
(similar to functionalist meritocracy view because both believe education has become somewhat equal)

Radical:
critical view - system remains patriarchal, e.g sexual harassment of girls + more male heads