PUPILS' SEXUAL AND GENDER BELIEFS

Question 1

Connell (1995)

Answer 1

‘Hegemonic’ masculinity; dominance of heterosexual masculine identity and the subordination of female and gay identities

Question 2

1. Double Standards

Answer 2

a. Lees (1993); a double standard of sexual morality where boys boast about their sexual experiences but call girls ‘slags’ when they share theirs
b. Feminists; clear example of our patriarchal society, justifying male power and devaluing women

Question 3

2. Verbal Abuse

Answer 3

a. Boys use name-calling to put down girls if they want to act or dress in certain/different ways
b. Usage of negative labels shows how students police each others sexuality
c. Paetcher (1996); males use these terms to describe students who are disinterested/bad at sports and prefer traditionally feminine subjects

Question 4

3. The Male Gaze

Answer 4

a. Mac and Ghaill; where male pupils/teachers make judgements about the appearance of girls
b. “; way of surveillance through which dominant heterosexuality is reinforced and femininity devalued

Question 5

4. Male Peer Groups

Answer 5

Mac and Ghaill’s (1994) study of Parnell school;

• Male peer groups put boys under pressure to not take school work seriously
• Working class boys; genuinely didn’t make an effort (similar to Willis’ study of the Lads)
• Middle class boys; produce the image of ‘effortless achievement’ but in reality would try hard behind the scenes

Question 6

5. Female Peer Groups

Answer 6

a. Archer; interviews with 89 young people:
- Girls who didn’t conform to traditional gender identities were disadvantaged due to coming into conflict with the school
b. Jackson; laddishness amongst girls is on the increase:
- Loudness, aggressiveness, and drinking excessively
- Advantages: girls can seem carefree which saves them from losing their reputation if they fail

Question 7

6. Teachers and Discipline

Answer 7

a. Haywood (1996); male teachers tell boys off for ‘acting like girls’ and tease them when they score lower than girls on tests
b. Teachers ignore boys verbal abuse towards girls, and blame girls for ‘attracting it’
c. Male teachers are often protective of female staff:
- rescuing them from disruptive classes
- however, this action undermines the the teacher making them look as if they can’t cope