Subject Choice - Gender

Question 1

What kinds of subjects do boys typically choose?

Answer 1

Maths, sciences, computing, business, sports. Logical subjects

Question 2

What kinds of subject do girls typically choose?

Answer 2

Health & social care, English, social sciences, beauty. Expressive/creative subjects

Question 3

What are the 4 reasons why there are gender differences in subject choice?

Answer 3

Gender role socialisation/gender domains
Gendered subject images
Peer pressure
Gendered career opportunities

Question 4

What is gender role socialisation/gender domains?

Answer 4

The ‘territory’ of all things that are considered to be ‘for’ boys or ‘for’ girls, e.g. football and blue is for boys, dance and pink is for girls

Question 5

What are gendered subject images?

Answer 5

The way that certain subjects are seen to be boys’ or girls’ subjects, e.g. science is typically seen as a boys’ subject, while health & social care is often seen as a girls’ subjects

Question 6

How does peer pressure relate to subject choice?

Answer 6

Students may not choose certain subjects as they are afraid of being pressured/bullied/harassed if that subject is considered to be outside of their gender domain

Question 7

How do gendered career opportunities relate to subject choice?

Answer 7

Many careers are still sex-typed (in other words, they are dominated by men or women, and are seen in that way). This gives boys and girls an idea about what they should/should not be looking at for careers, which will influence the subjects they choose at school in order to get into those careers