Subject choice

Question 1

Gender and role socialisation

Answer 1

• Girls and boys are raised differently and this can channel them into different subject at school.
• NORMAN: links this to different activities boys and girls take part in as children
• MCROBBIE: bedroom culture–> girls tend to read more fiction which leads to more expressive subjects, Boys read more hobby books which leads to more technical subjects

Question 2

Gendered subject image

Answer 2

The gender subject image affects who chooses that subject at GCSE and Alevel.

• KELLY: argues that science is seen as a boys subject due to there being more male teachers, texbook illustrations focus on boys interests such as sport
  –> which ever gender dominate in the lesson can influence the gender image eg. girls dominate in Drama and the Arts where as boys dominate in PE

Question 3

Gender identities and peer groups pressures

Answer 3

Students can face extreme pressure to conform to gender stereotypes in order to be accepted by their peers.

• Frosh and Phoenix–> boys who tried at school were labelled as feminine as gay, few boys were able to be both popular and academically successful

Question 4

Evaluation of Gender

Answer 4

• Move towards Gender neutral parenting and socialisation
• Leonard: Gendered subject images has less impact in single sex schools show that subject genderisation is a social construct
• Programs such as GIST and WISE help to draw girls into the sciences

Question 5

Ethnocentric curriculum

Answer 5

BAME students may be put off from studying subjects such as English and History due to the focus on the white British culture

Question 6

English as a additional language

Answer 6

Students may be channelled to less academic subjects due to levels of English language

Question 7

Evaluation of ethnicity

Answer 7

Globalisation has created a more multicultural curriculum, with wider choices to the units that are taught

Question 8

Material factors

Answer 8

Some students may feel that they are excluded from certain subjects due to the cost if completing the course for example. Music and Art

Question 9

Cultural factors

Answer 9

Working class students may feel that certain subjects are not for them as they do not possess the cultural knowledge to succeed eg. drama and english

Question 10

Labelling

Answer 10

Working class students may be pushed towards less academic and more vocational subjects

Question 11

Evaluation of class factors

Answer 11

Polices such as Pupil Premium are in place to support students from deprived backgrounds with the hidden cost of education