gender: subject choice and identity

Question 1

what is gender role socialisation

Answer 1

the process of learning the behaviour expected of males and females in society

Question 2

what does Norman say about early socialisation

Answer 2

from an early age boys and girls are dressed differently, given different toys and encouraged to take part in different activity’s

Question 3

what does browne and ross say about gender domains

Answer 3

children’s belief in gender domains are shaped by their early experiences and expectations from adults
- gender domains: tasks and activity’s that boys and girls see as feminine/masculine

Question 4

what point does murphy put forward

Answer 4

girls and boys pay attention to different details even when tackling different tasks - girls focus on how people feel and boys focus on how things are made and work - explains why girls choose humanities and arts and why boys choose science

Question 5

what are the three reasons kelly says science is seen as a boys subject

Answer 5

1. science teachers are more likely to be men
2. examples given by teachers and textbooks are based on boys interests and not girls
3. boys tend to monopolise apparatus and dominate the laboratory

Question 6

what are the two reasons kelly says that computer studies is seen as a masculine subject

Answer 6

1. involves working with machines - part of male gender domain
2. the way its taught is off putting to females as teaching tends to have few opportunity’s for group work which girls favour

Question 7

how can girls feel pee pressured into choosing certain subjects

Answer 7

• boys opt out of choosing subjects such as music and dance as these activity’s fall outside of their gender domain and so it will attract a negative response from peers
• girls are less likely to choose sports as it is seen as a masculine option and will often be labelled as ‘lesbian’ for choosing such subject
• contrast: single sex schools - girls are more likely to choose traditional boys subject

Question 8

describe the meaning of gendered career opportunities

Answer 8

jobs are often seen as either feminine/masculine
- women’s jobs: childcare and nursing, women are concentrated into a narrow range of occupations
this sex typing of occupations affects boys and girls ideas about what jobs are possible/acceptable

Question 9

what does connel say

Answer 9

that school experiences can reinforce ‘hegemonic masculinity’

Question 10

what are double standards

Answer 10

one way that schools reinforce hegemonic masculinity
- when everyone has a set of moral standards for one group but a different standard for another group
- feminists say that its another example of patriarchal ideology, justifies mens power and devalues women