external factors gender differences in educational achievement

Question 1

four external factors affecting gender differences in achievement

Answer 1

1. the impact of feminism
2. changes in the family
3. changes in women’s employment
4. girls’ changing ambitions

Question 2

impact of feminism

Answer 2

feminist movement increased women’s rights and challengers their “traditional role” in education

magazines now present women as independent and assertive

positively impacted girls life and career ambitions = improved achievement at school

Question 3

changes in family

Answer 3

higher divorce rates
lower no of first marriages
higher no of lone parent families = more female headed lone parent families = new role models for young girls (independence = high paid job= work harder to achieve in school)

Question 4

changes in women’s employment

Answer 4

1970 equal pay act = illegal to pay women less than men for equal job

women break through “glass ceiling” = barrier that keeps them out of high level professional jobs

Question 5

girls changing ambitions

Answer 5

SUE SHARPE = interviews show major shift in the ways girls see their future

1970s priorities family love husband children

1990s priorities financial independence career driven