Why Girls Do Well (External)

Question 1

The Changing Nature of the Family

Answer 1

Closely links with the impact of feminism.

Women have much more freedom when it comes to relationships and marriage. E.g: divorce is easier, more same-sex couples/the mother is no longer just the ‘housewife’, etc.
This may encourage girls to achieve as they know that they can work even if they get married.

E = the increase in female headed lone-parent families could also mean a significant number of single mothers who are unable to build a career, so aren’t strong role models.

Question 2

The Impact of Feminism

Answer 2

• Challenges the traditional role of women in society.
• Sharpe interviewed girls in the 70s and compared them to the 90s, finding that girls used to have low educational aspirations and focused on “love, marriage, husbands, children.”

The Equal Pay Act and Sex Discrimination Act means that independence is much more achievable: recognise the need to achieve in education.

E = media imagery can be criticised for representing women as sexual objects for men, as said by the media theorist van Zoonen. Also, still significant pay differences.

Question 3

Maturity and Feminine Identity

Answer 3

By 16 it was estimated that girls are 2 years more mature. They approach exams with more seriousness, can concentrate for longer. Francis suggests that this is because of feminine identity, leading to a pro-school subculture being formed.

E = Archer argues that many WC girls underachieve due to developing a working-class feminine identity, argued that girls try to gain status through appearance to avoid being seen as ‘trampy’ so less focus on schoolwork.

Question 4

Leisure Time

Answer 4

Boys spend more time ‘doing’, girls spend more time developing a bedroom culture where they spend time talking or reading, developing linguistic/communication skills that are used in society.

Oakhill and Petrides = girls have a better time understanding a text they have little interest in compared to boys. Therefore, girls do better in education.

E = Barber showed that boys tend to overestimate their academic ability and girls underestimate their academic ability, meaning that it is not their leisure time, but rather their low self confidence that pushes them to work harder.