Education (Gender & Subject Choices) Flashcards
(14 cards)
What are the differences in post-16 education subject choices?
They become more obvious
Boys are likely to opt for maths and physics
Girls are more likely to opt for sociology and english
This continues into uni
What is a vocational course?
A vocational course is one that is directed at a particular occupation and its skills.
What has been noticed about the gender differences in vocational education?
Gendered differences are even more pronounced in vocational education.
Only 2 in 100 construction apprentices are girls.
What is polarisation in terms of subject choices?
The National Curriculum 1988 has polarised males and females decisions is subject choice
Leading to continued polarisation within the jobs market
What did Stables & Wikey (1996) day about the National Curriculum options?
Stables & Wikey (1996) - Where options have become available boys and girls tend to choose differently
(A-level boys = Maths, business, economic, politics and science (but not biology)
A-level girls = English, modern languages, psychology and sociology
What are the four reasons explaining gender differences can be broke down into?
PEGG
Peer Pressure
Early Socialisation
Gendered subject images
Gendered career opportunities
Early Socialisation : What did Norman et al (1988) say?
Norman et al (1988) argues that “sex stereotyping” starts from a very young age. (E.g. Girls are given dolls)
- She notes that boys and girls are quickly dressed differently and taken to different activities.
Early Socialisation : What did Browne & Ross (1991) say?
Browne & Ross (1991) early experiences shape our ideas about gender (e.g. mending a car is seen as a man’s job)
What did Lobban (1974) say?
Found sex stereotyping in children’s books.
Gendered Subject Images : How does Allison Kelly see that science is a boys subject?
Science teachers are more likely to be male
Textbook example use males experiences and interests
Boys monopolise equipment and dominate the apparatus from girls.
Gender Domains: What did Anne Colley (1998) find?
when researching ICT found it is seen as a “male subject” -
Working with machines
Taught through discovery
Peer Pressure : why wouldn’t boys opt for subjects like dance and music?
Boys don’t opt for music and dance as it isn’t seen as ‘manly’
Peer Pressure : What did Alison Dewar (1990) find?
Alison Dewar (1990) found boys called girls ‘lesbians’ or ‘butch’ if they were more interested in sports.
Gendered Career Opportunities : What did Patricia Murphy (1991) say?
Sex-type’ stereotyping still occurs where girls and boys see particular jobs as more masculine or feminine.
Many jobs done by females involve work done by housewives
