Trends in subject choice

Question 1

How has gender socialisation led to trends in subject choice?

Answer 1

Girls and boys are raised differently, and this can lead them to pick different subjects at school.

Question 2

What does Murphy and Elwood say in relation to bedroom culture?

Answer 2

Girls tend to read more fiction books which leads them to take more expressive subjects. Boys read more hobby books which leads them to take more technical subjects.

Question 3

What does Kelly say about gendered subject images?

Answer 3

Science is seen as a male subject due to most science teachers being male and textbook examples being based on males. This puts off girls from taking these subjects

Question 4

What does Paechter say about gender identities and peer group pressures?

Answer 4

Sports are seen as male domain, and girls will be seen as unfeminine if they take this subject.

Question 5

How does the ethnocentric curriculum impact subject choice?

Answer 5

Ethnic minority students may be put off from taking subjects such as English and History due to their focus on British culture.

Question 6

How does English not being a first language impact subject choice?

Answer 6

Ethnic minorities may be channelled into lower streams due to teachers labelling them as unable to partcipate due to language barriers

Question 7

How do material factors impact subject choice?

Answer 7

Low income students may feel excluded from certain subject choices due to the cost of completing the course e.g music and art

Question 8

How do cultural factors impact subject choice?

Answer 8

Working class students may feel they are not suited to certain subjects due to their lack of cultural capital e.g english

Question 9

How does labelling impact subject choice?

Answer 9

Working class students may be pushed towards less academic subjects and more vocational subjects.