gender differences in education Flashcards
statistical data showing that girls and boys are unequal in attainment upon starting school
2013 teacher assessments at end of year show girls ahead of boys by 7-17 percentage points
differences in girls and boys upon starting school in cognitive development
DfE 2013 study found that in state primary schools boys were 2.5 times more likely to have statements of special educational needs
evidence for girls being higher achievers that boys at key stages 1-3
girls consistently do better than boys especially in English where gap widens with age
in science gap is narrow but girls still do better
evidence of girls doing better in GCSEs
gender gap stands at around 10 percentage points
evidence of girls doing better at AS and A level
girls more likely to sit, pass, get higher grades though grade gap is narrower than it was at GCSE
2013 - 46.8% girls got A - B grade compared to 42.2% boys even in masculine subjects
girls doing better in vocational courses in education
larger proportion of girls get a distinction grade in every subject even in engineering + construction
how has the impact of feminism mean that girls are achieving more than before
since 1960’s women have been challenging the traditional stereotype of a mother + housewife
-opportunities through the law have allowed self- esteem + expectations to increase
changes are reflected in the media
what were the findings of this sociologists from studying magazines from different timepoints
McRobbie’s studies of girls’ magazines
1970’s - emphasised the importance of getting married + not being left on the shelf ,whereas nowadays they contain images of dominant assertive women
waht changes in the family allow girls to change and be able to succeed within society
-an increase in the divorce rate
- an increase in cohabitation + decrease in the number of marriage
- increase in lone - parent families
-smaller families
how does a change in the family structure allow women to be independent
increased female head + lone parent families means that women need to become the breadwinners - so they need better qualifications
how do increases in divorce rates mean that women may need to get better education and receive more qualifications
it is unwise to rely on a husband to be a provider, girls must earn qualifications to make a living
how did the equal pay act bring equality to the difference in the work place
1970 - Equal Pay Act - it is illegal to pay men more than women for work of equal value
pay gap from 30% to 15%
proportion of women in employment from earlier years to later ones
proportion in employment from 53’5 in 1971 to to 67% in 2013
what did this sociologist find in interviews with young girls about girls changing ambitions
Sharpe’s interviews with girls from the 70’s and 90’s show a major shift in ambitions
1974 - educational success was unfeminine, being ambitious is considered unattractive. prioritised love, marriage, children
1990’s - ambitions had changed, different order of priorities. girls see their futures as an independent women with a career rather than dependant on a man + his income
what is the trend towards individualisation where independence is valued in todays society according to these sociologists
Beck + Beck - Gernsheim - career has become part of woman’s life project because it promises status + economic self - sufficiency
what did Fuller find in her study of girls
educational success was a central aspect of their identity. they are creators of their own future + had an individualised notion of self
belief in meritocracy
intersectionality in gender, class and ambition
sociologist theory
some WC continue to have gendered stereotyped aspirations for marriage + children expect to go into low paid women’s work
Reay - this reflects reality of girls position- limited aspirations reflect limited job opportunities they perceive available
what are policies GIST and WISE
how did he introduction of the National curriculum allow girls to achieve
national curriculum made it compulsory for girls + boys to study the same subjects
how do the policies GIST and WISE allow for girls to achieve more
These policies encourage girls to purse careers in these non - traditional areas
female scientists visit schools - shows that girls can also become these types of professions
non - sexist career advice is given out to these girls
how is increase in achieving role models cause girls achievement
an increase in proportion of female teachers + heads
these are role models to girls, showing that women can achieve positions of power
what socioogist argues about the way that grades are assessed is in favour of girls
Coursework favours girls over boys
girls are higher achievers when it comes to coursework, they do well with deadlines
due to primary socialisation of being taught to be neat + presentable
Gorard - gender gap in education was constant form 1975 until 1989. year of GCSEs with coursework as major part of assessment
what factors help girls to do better with coursework according to Mitsos and Browne
-girls take better care of presentation
- spend more time on their work
- bring right equipment
-are better at meeting deadlines
why are girls better at coursework
gender role socialisation in primary socialisation
girls encouraged to be neat + patient
who criticises the view the coursework is not the reason for the failure for boys
Elwood - although coursework does have some influence on overall grades as exams have a much greater influence on final grades
how are boys treated in the classroom compared to girls -name all sociologists
Jane + French found that boys received more reprimands
Francis found that while boys got more attention, they were disciplined much harshly - felt picked on (leads to negative response e.g anti-school)
how do boys behave differently in the classroom compared to girls according to this sociologists findings
Swann - found gender differences in communication styles
boys dominate whole class discussions whereas girls prefer paired work + are better at listening + cooperation
how does a self fulfilling prophecy happen to boys related to how they behave in the classroom
boys are disruptive + hostile interruptions that characterises them into a negative self image causing labelling
teachers discipline boys harshly causing them the self- fulfilling prophecy
how have stereotypes been challenged in broader society that has lead to girls being able to become successful
removal of stereotypes in textbooks, the media + learning material removed a barrier of portraying women as housewives
Weiner since 1980’s teachers have challenged stereotypes of girls being bound to unpaid labour
how have marketisation policies allowed girls to have a bigger chance of success and to what sociologists agree with this
marketisation policies created a more competitive climate in which schools pick out the desirable students because that gives them a better league table position
Jackson - girls are seen as high achievers so they are attractive recruits to the schools
slee - argues boys are less attractive to schools because they are more likely to suffer from behavioural difficulties so boys seen as liabilities
