SUBJECT CHOICE AND GENDER IDENTITY Flashcards
-To understand differential educational achievement of social groups by social class, gender and ethnicity in contemporary society
What are the reasons for gender differences in subject choice?
1) Primary socialisation- Girls may be more drawn towards language based subjects and boys may be more drawn towards technical subjects.
2) Gender Domains- Children may choose subject because they feel the subject top into male or female domains (e.g. English tops into female domains-girls are more likely to choose it.)
3) Gendered subject images- subjects van be perceived as being feminine/masculine.
4) peer pressure- males can be peer pressured into picking certain subjects especially if they van be perceived as feminine.
5) Gendered career opportunities-Certain jobs can be gendered identified (e.g race drivers tend to be viewed as male) Also schools reinforce gender identity through hidden curriculum,
What is Patricia Murphy’s research about?
When asked to draw ships, boys drew battleships and speed boats with detailed weaponry but little or no attention paid to living quarters. Girls drew cruise liners, focusing on the state rooms and social itineraries. When asked to draw cars, boys drew sports cars whereas girls drew family cars.
How do schools reinforce gender identities?
1) verbal and body language, expectations the way they interact with students and each other dress, discipline
2) Double standards- amongst students and society in general, different standards exist regarding male and female sexuality.
- Men are celebrated for their sexual conquests but women are seen as promiscuous for exhibiting the same behaviour
How do schools reinforce gender identities?/How do students police each other?
1) Verbal abuse: name calling and making fun of students who break gender norms
2) Male peer pressure groups- put particular pressure on other males (Mac and Ghaill)
3) The male gaze- Mac an Ghaill suggest the way boys look at girls up and down is a form of surveillance through which dominate heterosexual masculinity is expressed.
