Pupils sexual and gender identities

Question 1

What are the 6 factors that effect the way pupils experiences in school shape their identity?

Answer 1

1. Double standards
2. verbal abuse
3. male gaze
4. male peer groups
5. Female peer groups
6. Teachers and discipline

Question 2

Double standards

Answer 2

People apply different standards to one group
LEES - identifies a double standard of sexuality morality in boys which boast about sexual exploits but call girls ‘slag’
- sexual acts status for males but promiscuous for girls

Feminists see these double standards as patriarchal ideology that devalues women - form of social control

Question 3

Verbal abuse

PAECHTER / CONNELL

Answer 3

CONNELL - one way sexual identities are reinforced.

PAECHTER - sees name calling as shaping gender identity / maintain male power - ‘gay’ negative label in ways students police other sexual identity

They note that these labels have no relation to their sexual identities but perform a function of reinforcing gender norms about sexuality.

Question 4

The male gaze

Answer 4

MAC AN GHAILL
Visual aspect of controlling each others identities.
The way male and pupil teachers look girls up and down making judgements

Allows for dominant heterosexual masculinity to be reinforced whilst femininity devalued.

Boy’s who do not show masculinity in this way run the risk of being labelled ‘gay’

Question 5

male peer groups

Answer 5

uses verbal abuse to reinforce their definitions of masculinity.

MAC AN GHAILL - study of parnell school - examines how peer groups reproduce masculine identity

WC boys dismissive of those who work hard - calling them ‘dickhead achievers’
MC - projected image of working without trying though worked in silent

In secondary WC boy attitudes in sixth from MC
Shift from toughness to intellectual ability - suggesting a more MC atmosphere to sixth form

Question 6

Female peer groups - policing identity

Answer 6

Archer - heterosexual feminine identity

RINGROSE - study found popular crucial to girl’s identity
Tension when transitioning to friendship → dating culture

A idealised feminine identity - showing loyalty to peer group and getting along with all
A sexualised identity - involved competition for boys in dating culture

CURRIE - girls have to balance not being to competitive risk being ‘slut shamed’ but can’t be to ‘frigid’

‘Boffin’ identity - smart successful

FRANCIS - MC boffins respond in kind by defining WC girls as chavs

Question 7

Teachers and discipline

Answer 7

Teachers play a role in reinforcing dominant definitions of gender identity.
HAYWOOD / MAC AN GHAILL -bfound male teachers told boys off for behaving like girls
blamed girls for attracting boys verbal abuse