Girls - External factors affecting achievement

Question 1

Impact of feminism: McRobbie -Study involving a comparison of girls’ magazines from 1970s-90s

Answer 1

• 1970s - emphasised girls becoming married, becoming a housewife and primary caregiver.
• 1990s - contained images of assertive independent women w/ jobs.

Question 2

Changes in the family: 1970s

What has caused this?

Answer 2

• Increase in divorce, increase in cohabitation = smaller family sizes.

1. Affected girls’ view of education
2. Single mums act as a role model for young girls.
3. Inspiration and motivation to work hard in education

Question 3

Policies and stats!

Changes in women’s employment

Answer 3

• Equal Pay Act 1970
• Sex Discrimination 1975

1. Proportion of women in emplyment from 1959-2007 = 47% - 70%
2. Pay gap of women since 1970s has fallen from 30% - 17%
3. Women are now breaking the ‘glass ceiling’

Question 4

Sue Sharpe 1970s-90s comparison

Girls’ changing ambitions

Answer 4

• Saw a major shift in how girls’ view their future.
  1. 1970s - Low educational aspirations, saw educational success as unfeminine, prioritised “love, marriage, husband and children”.
  2. 1990s - Priorities were now having a career and being financially independent before committing to a relationship and having children.