DJs: Gender Subject choice Flashcards
(4 cards)
Explain the reason for Gender subject choice:
Early Socialisation
Provide a criticism for this.
According to Oakley (1973) gender role socialisation contributes towards gender subject choice. Norman (1988) observes that from an early age girls and boys are treated very differently, given different toys and encouraged to take part in different activities and this can channel their development and interest in different subjects and careers. Byrne (1979) states that schools reinforce this. Teachers’ expectations are gendered, they encourage girls to be quiet, passive, helpful, clean and tidy and boys are expected to be tough, rough and noisy. Many sociologists argue that as a result of gendered socialisation patterns, girls and boys develop different tastes in reading and that these influence different subject choices. For example, boys prefer hobby books and information texts while girls are more likely to read stories about people and this explains why boys prefer the sciences and girls prefer subjects such as English and the humanities.
Browne and Ross (1991) argue that children’s beliefs about ‘gender domains; are shaped by their early experiences - children are more confident when engaging in tasks they see as part of their gender domain and this influences what subjects they see as ‘girl’ or ‘boy’ subjects.
Criticism: Primary socialisation doesnt rigidly determine subject choice. Choices can often have several other factors such as peer influence and person interests.
Explain the reason for Gender subject choice:
Gender subject images
Provide a criticism for this.
-The gender image that a subject ‘gives off’ affects who will want to choose it. Kelly (1984) argues that science is seen as a boys’ subject as science teachers tend to be male; the examples that they use and those found in textbooks often draw on boys’ experiences; boys monopolise the lab and equipment acting as if it is ‘theirs’. This can make the subject science more attractive for boys to study.
Provide a criticism argument that contradicts the idea that all students make gendered subject choices:
