Subject Choice And Gender

Question 1

Early socialisation

Answer 1

Browne and Ross say early socialisation helps decide what your interests are and what you want to do in the future. For example, girls may be given barbie dolls to dress up and therefore in the future they may decide to choose a subject suiting that in later life.

Question 2

Gendered subject image

Answer 2

Alison Kelly says science teachers are likely to be men so boys have role models to look up to in this subject and also boys monopolise the apparatus and dominate the laboratory acting as if it’s theirs.

Question 3

Peer pressure

Answer 3

Archer says girls are policed by their peers to conform to femininity

Mac en ghail says homophobic language used if girls are sporty. This puts them off choosing the subject.