pupils gender idenitity

Question 1

how do schools construct and reinforce gender/sexual identities?

Answer 1

• hegemonic masculinity = dominant form of heterosexual masculinity which involves the subordination of female and gay identities
• patriarchal ideological = social control of girls learned through the hidden curriculum (what children learn through the experience of going to school)

Question 2

what are the characteristics of hypersexual feminine identity?

Answer 2

• makeup
• boyfriends
• jewellery
• sportswear (branded)
• associated with working class girls
• symbolic capital - respect and status within peers
• policed by peers
• unpopular if you fail to conform

Question 3

what is the ‘boffin’ identity?

Answer 3

• girls who want to be successful often conform to the schools notion of the ideal feminine identity
• asexual - lacking interest in boys/popular fashion
• can lead to ‘exclusion’ from other girls and boys

Question 4

what are male peer groups like?

(MAC AN GHAIL STUDY)

Answer 4

• use verbal abuse to reinforce masculinity
• anti-school subcultures refer to hardworking boys as ‘geeks’, ‘nerds’ and ‘gay’

MAC AN GHAIL STUDY:
- working class ‘macho lads’ are anti school
- middle class ‘real englishmen project an image of effortless achievement
- in the sixth form the dominant male identity had changed from the macho lad to the real englishman

Question 5

LEES - double standard pf sexual morality

Answer 5

• boys boast about their sexual conquests
• girls are referred to as ‘slags’ for dressing in a certain way
• sexual promiscuity attracts negative labels for girls

Question 6

verbal abuse and the male gaze
(LEES)
(MAC AN GHAIL)
(PAECHER)

Answer 6

LEES - girls referred to as ‘slags’ or ‘drags’

MAC AN GHAIL - boys make judgements about the appearance of girls - viewing them as sexual objects

PAECHER - negative labels such as ‘gay’, ‘queer’ and ‘lesbian’ used by pupils to police sexual identities. these labels bear no reflection to pupils sexual behaviour - function simply to reinforce gender norms

Question 7

teachers role and discipline

Answer 7

• teachers play a role in reinforcing gender identities
• tease boys for acting like girls
• ignored male verbal abuse - blamed girls for attracting it
• male teachers are often protective of their female colleagues - rescuing them from disruptive classes suggesting that they cant cope.