Topic 4: Gender - Effect of social change on achievement

Question 1

What does the feminist sociologist, Helen Wilkinson, attribute the change in achievement to?

Answer 1

She claims that the increase in female aspiration and the depression of male expectation is due to the post-industrialisation of the past 30 years.

Question 2

What has changed in the economy and education over the past 30 years and what has this meant for women?

Answer 2

The economy and workforce have become increasingly feminised.
The increase in opps for women in the service sector means girls believe they can have more choice, providing them with the incentive of econ independence and a career.

Question 3

For Wilkinson, what has changed in female attitudes to work and education?

Answer 3

Female aspirations underwent a “genderquake”.

No longer restricted to family and motherhood; many now value qualifications and aspire to have careers.

Question 4

What has the aspiration of having a career meant for girls at school?

Answer 4

There is a greater incentive to do well.

Question 5

How does Sue Sharpe support Wilkinson with evidence?

Answer 5

She surveyed wc girls in London:

• (Just Like a Girl, 1976): Girls held trad views about womanhood, valuing marriage and children above careers.
• 1994: Priorities had changed - valued economic independence and careers over family.

Question 6

What did Francis and Skelton (2005) note about how girls define their identity?

Answer 6

Chosen careers reflect their sense of identity.

They can gain future fulfilment from these, rather than it being a stopgap before marriage.

Question 7

What did a study of primary and secondary school girls show about their future job prospects?

Answer 7

Francis and Skelton (2005):

Many girls are looking towards jobs that require degree-level qualifications.

Question 8

What did Wilkinson and Sharpe note about feminist ideas in society?

Answer 8

Feminist ideas were filtering down through education, media, and ultimately into families.
These ideas led to an increased emphasis on equal opportunities within schools.

Question 9

What has the increase in employment and changing female attitudes been accompanied with within the family? (5)

Answer 9

1. Long-term increases in divorce.
2. Increased age at first marriage.
3. Increased age at birth of first child.
4. Growth of lone parenthood.
5. More individuals living alone.

Question 10

Beck (1992) sees these changes in the family and education as part of what?

Answer 10

The risk society.
The growth of risk and uncertainty has led to increased insecurity for both sexes.
Relationships and jobs are insecure and cannot be relied upon in the long term as in the past - this creates a more individualised society.

Question 11

For the postmodernist, Beck, what does this increase in uncertainty and individualisation mean?

Answer 11

It means women have to be more self-reliant and financially independent.
This increases the incentive to do well at school so they don’t have to be reliant on a husband in future.

Question 12

What do some people argue the impact of a post-industrial society has been on boys?

Answer 12

Their expectations have lowered, and many have low self-confidence and self-esteem.

Question 13

What does Mac an Ghaill (1994) believe boys are suffering from in this post-industrial age?

Answer 13

A “crisis of masculinity”.
Boys are socialised into being the breadwinner - this is the focal point of their male identity.
However, the landscape has changed.

Question 14

How does Mac an Ghaill show that typically masculine roles are under threat, causing this crisis of masculinity?

Answer 14

1. Decline of the manufacturing industry and high unemployment means it is unlikely that males will be the primary earners.
2. New service sector jobs are more suited to the skills of women.
3. Females now tend to be the main earners.

Question 15

Overall, what judgement can I make from Mac an Ghaill’s work?

Answer 15

The changes in the economy and society have left many wc males feeling lost and somewhat isolated.
The new service-based economy is more female-friendly, potentially ostracising many wc males.

Question 16

What does Wragg (1997) believe about the impact of pessimism surrounding the world of work has had on boys?

Answer 16

The incentive has filtered down to primary school children.

They, too, feel pessimistic due to the declining job prospects, and this undermines their desire to work hard.

Question 17

What does Jackson (2006) conclude about the attitudes of wc male adolescents?

Answer 17

They don’t see the point in school or qualifications as they will merely end up in unskilled or semi-skilled work.
Thus, they look for alternative sources of status by exaggerating their masculinity by involving themselves with anti-school subcultures.
The unlikeliness of employment giving them a sense of identity led to the use of laddish behaviour to restore masculine pride.

Question 18

What did Jackson find about masculinity and feminity in schools?

Answer 18

She found that schools were dominated by hegemonic masculinity, valuing toughness, power, and competition.
Schoolwork was seen as uncool and feminine, so the boys that wanted to do well often did work at home - this strongly disadvantaged wc boys who had poorer facilities.

Question 19

What can we see as being the changes in where boys and girls get their sense of identity from?

Answer 19

Girls, as the labour market widened, began to gain a sense of identity from their jobs.
Boys, on the other hand, no longer did as the traditional masculine jobs went into decline, thus they resorted to laddish cultures.

Question 20

What do Francis and Skelton (2005) argue about underachieving boys at school?

Answer 20

Despite appearing tough on the outside to boost his self-image, he is often vulnerable and insecure.
This could be reinforced by the lack of educational success.