Pupils sexual and gender identities

Question 1

Double standard

Answer 1

Lees (1993):
-Double standard of sexual morality: boys will be praised about their own sexual exploits + brag about it, whereas girls will be called a ‘slag’ if did the same
-Feminists view the double standard as an example of patriarchal ideology which justifies male power + devalues women

Question 2

Verbal abuse

Answer 2

Lees (1986):
-Found that girls would be labelled as ‘slags’ if they dressed a certain way + ‘drags’ if they didn’t
Paetcher:
-Name calling helps reinforce gender norms and maintain male power
-Boys will be called ‘gay’, ‘queer’

Question 3

Male gaze

Answer 3

Mac + Ghail:
-The way male pupils + teachers look girls up + down, sexualising them
-A form of surveillance where dominant heterosexual masculinity is reinforced + femininity is devalued
-How boys prove their masculinity

Question 4

Male peer groups

Answer 4

Mac an Ghaill (1994):
- Found the W/C ‘macho lads’ were dismissive of other W/C boys who worked hard, referring to them as ‘dickhead achievers’
- M/C ‘real Englishmen’ reinforced an image of ‘effortless achievement’.

Question 5

Female peer groups

Answer 5

Ringrose (2013):
-Study of 13-14 year old w/c girls
-Found being popular was crucial to a girls identity
-Idealised feminine identity- showing loyalty, being non-competitive
-Sexualised feminine identity- involved competing for boys
-Girls can be labelled as ‘frigid’ for not competing for boys OR labelled as ‘sluts’ for being TOO competitive

Question 6

Teachers + discipline

Answer 6

Haywood + Mac an Ghaill (1996):
-Found that male teachers told boys off for ‘behaving like girls’ + teased them when gaining lower test marks