Gender Subject choice

Question 1

Outline reasons for gender difference in subject choice

Answer 1

• Gender role socialization
• Gendered Subject images
• Gender Identity and Peer Pressure
• Gendered Career opportunities

Question 2

What gender route do girls & boys follow in their choices:

Answer 2

• At GCSE Level : girl choose subjects such as food tech and health/social care whereas boys choose Resistant Material
• In post 16 Education : boys opt for subjects such as math’s and physics while girls opt for subjects like art, sociology and modern language
• In vocational courses: only 1 in 100 childcare apprentices are boys and only 1% of girls do construction apprenticeship

Question 3

Define Gender role socialization

Answer 3

it is the process of learning the behaviors expected of males and females in society thus early socialization shapes gender identity

Question 4

What is Gender Domain?

Answer 4

refers to the tasks and activities that boys and girls see as either male or female territory and therefore whether it is relevant to them or not

Question 5

Give example of a gender domain

Answer 5

Mending a car is seen as falling within the male domain but not caring for a sick child

Question 6

how does Gender socialization impact choice (theorist)?

Answer 6

the different socialization boys and girls experience within the home and schools leads to differences in subject choice. Norman found that parents dress boys and girls differently, gives them gender specific toys and different reading schemes. for instance, parents encourage girls in passive activities such as reading whereas boys are encouraged to let of steam. Similarly in schools, Byrne noted that teachers encourage boys to be tough and show initiatives whereas girls are expected to be quite, passive and helpful. All of which greatly influence their subject choices as it shapes their gender domain. Therefore, explaining why more girls do more reflective and academic subjects such as English and Sociology while boys do active subject such as P.E

Question 7

How does Gendered Subject images affect choice?

Answer 7

• the gender image of a subject or course immensely affects choices. For instance, computer studies are viewed as a masculine subject because it involves working with machines which falls within the male gender domain. Colley states that teaching styles that are boy or girl friendly is off putting to the opposite sex. Therefore, computer science is a male dominated subject because way it is taught is off putting to females as tasks tend to be abstract, teaching styles formal with few opportunities for group work which girls favor. Similarly, science is mainly taught by men, textbook used usually exemplify boy’s interest as opposed to girls and Kelly states that boys dominate science classrooms thus off-putting some girls from choosing the subject A-level

Question 8

Peer Pressure influence in subject choice?

Answer 8

• Boys tend to opt out of subjects like music and dance, because such activities fall out of their gender domain and so are likely to attract a negative response from peers such as being called “gay”
  likewise, Dewar found that girls who opt for sport have to put with negative comments such as “butch” and “lesbian” from their male peers as it contradict female stereotypes