Rise of Feminism

Question 1

Trends in achievement by gender

Answer 1

• Across social class and ethnic backgrounds girls perform better than their male counterparts
• Recent trends from late 1980s onwards have been a reversal of historic trends
• impact of the second wave of feminism from the late 1950s onwards

Question 2

What was the second wave of feminism

Answer 2

• First wave of feminism looked at establishing political equality
• second wave feminism focused on legal, economic and social equality
• Women’s liberation movement growth of feminist sociology
• Subsequent waves of feminism tackled intersectionality

Question 3

How has second wave feminism influenced girls achievement

Answer 3

• Changing attitudes towards women in the workplace
• Legal equality in the workplace between men and women
• Changing aspirations of women towards work
• Change to traditional gender roles and gender socialisation

Question 4

Application of Social Policies

Answer 4

• Promotion of part time university courses
• Equal Pay Act
• Sex Discrimination Act
• Equality Act
• In school initiatives such as GIST and WISE

Question 5

Conclusions

Answer 5

• Did second wave feminism tackle inequality for all women?
• Despite progress of girls, a gender pay gap still exists
• Glass ceiling in employment
• Progress is being made, but is has slowed - predicted gender pay gap will cease to exist by 2050