T2 | Gender and achievement (external)

Question 1

What are the key external factors influencing differences in achievement in gender?

Answer 1

1. Impact of feminism
2. Changes in employment
3. Girls’ change in ambition
4. Changes in the family

Question 2

How did feminism movement impact educational achievement in girls?

Answer 2

Since the 1960s the feminist movement has challenged the traditional stereotype of a woman’s role as solely that of a mother and a housewife of a patriarchal society.

> McRobbie (1994)
— They conducted a study on girls magazines.
— 1970s magazines were focused on marriage and not being “left on the shelf”
— In contemporary society magazines women are shown in more assertive positions. This may affect educational achievement as this can influence the identity and self image that female students may have.
— The changes encouraged by feminism may affect girls’ self image and ambitions in regards to family and career.

Question 3

What does the Equal Pay Act (1970s) state?

Answer 3

It makes it illegal for a woman to be paid less than men for the same role / job of equal value.

Question 4

What is the Pay/Gender Gap?

Answer 4

Since 1975 the pay gap has halved; it used to be 30% and in 2013 it’s 15%

Question 5

What is the glass ceiling effect?

Answer 5

Breaking through the invisible barrier preventing progression in the workplace (eg. becoming a manager or a CEO).

Question 6

What is the Sex Discrimination Act (1975)?

Answer 6

Outlaws discrimination at work based on sex

Question 7

How has the employment rate changed in recent years?

Answer 7

There has been an increase in women’s employment since 1971.
— In 1971, it was 53%
— In 2013, it was 67%

Question 8

What did Sharpe (1994) find out about girls’ change in ambitions overtime?

Answer 8

> Sharpe (1994)
— Conducted two studies:

1. In 1974 the girls had low aspirations, they believed educational success was unfeminine and that appearing to be ambitious would be considered unattractive. They gave their priorities as: love, marriage, husbands children, job and then careers.
2. By the 1990s girls’ ambitions had changed and they had a different order of priorities. Careers and being able to support themselves were first. Sharpe found that girls were now more likely to see their future as an independent woman rather than depending on their husband and income.

Question 9

What did Beck and Beck-Gernsheim (2001) say about girls change in ambition?

Answer 9

> Beck and Beck-Gernsheim (2001)
— They link this to the trend towards individualism in modern society, where independence is valued much more.
— A career has become part of a woman’s life project because it promises recognition and economic self sufficiency.

Question 10

How have changes in the family impacted girls’ achievement?

Answer 10

Some of the major changes in the family include:
+ Increase in divorce rate
+ Increase in cohabitation and decrease in the number of marriages
+ Increase in number of lone parent families
+ Smaller families

There has been an increase in female headed lone parent families, meaning that women have to take on a breadwinner role.
— It creates a new adult role for girls to be a financially independent woman.

The increase in divorce rates, may suggest to girls that it is unwise to rely on a husband to be a provider.
— This may encourage girls to look to themselves and their own qualifications to make a living.