Sociology- Education- GenderW

What is the gender imbalance of physics students at university?

22.1% women

What is patriarchal ideology?

Set of myths that are not based on fact by men to maintain their power over women.

What is gender socialisation?

The act of learning to conform to culturally defined gender roles through socialisation

What are agents of gender socialisation?

Any person that plays a role in gender socialisation?

What is canalization?

The way in which parents channel the child's interests in activities/toys fit for the gender.

What does Sue Sharpe believe?

W/C girls priorities tended to be marriage and family life rather than jobs and careers because of role models encouraging domestic life. More likely to study textiles than boys etc.

What does Sue Lees believe?

A higher level of emphasis on careers than earlier research, however girls are still reconciled to a life centred around domesticity. This is because careers are short term as subjects such as STEM would be difficult to have time off for family.

What does Kelly argue?

Boys are given active construction toys whilst girls are given passive caring toys. This means that girls do not develop scientific aspirations- demonstrated by the fact they are less likely to study A-Level STEM.

What does Stanworth say?

Both male and female teachers expressed more concern and interest in boys. Girls ability was underestimated, makes them accept their lower status and also are at a disadvantage. Means that girls are less likely to try hard and less likely to pursue higher education.

What does Spender believe?

Interaction of the classroom, the curriculum content, and attitudes and expectations prepare girls for male domination and control. On average boys received 60% of teachers attention, and were allowed to get away with making fun of girls. Girls and boys work were graded differently, with girls marking being harsher. Causes an anti-school subculture, less likely to try hard etc.

What does Kelly believe about internal influences?

Boys have a tendency to 'take over' in the classroom especially in STEM, affecting girls ability to participate. In these subject's textbooks boys are heavily featured meaning that girls feel that that STEM isn't for them. This is the reason why the national curriculum made it compulsory.

How has marketisation impacted gender equality in education?

-Jackson: exam league tables have improved opportunities for girls, they have the ability to apply for high achieving schools.

-Slee: boys are 4x more likely to be excluded so are less attractive for schools.

What does Archer's study argue?

-Girls have heterosexual feminine identities as capital, which cause conflict with schools.

-Boys increase symbolic capital and change educational attitudes to please them.

-If they are outspoken and assertive their behaviour is seen as aggressive.

-Evans: girls want to go to university to please their family.

How do literacy issues affect boys achievement in school?

-Parents spend less time reading to boys (during covid reading gap widened to 11% from 2%)

-Boys are less likely to be gifted books, borrow books from the library.

-Boys leisure pursuits do not encourage communication skills.

-Affects writing/vocab/SPAG level and being able to understand exam questions.

-Boys are less likely to pick English.

What do Mitsos and Browne argue?

-Decline in jobs traditionally occupied by men, leading to an identity crisis (heavy industry) which leads boys not to try as hard.

-Willis would criticise saying that boys don't try as hard because the jobs didn't require qualifications.

-However the fastest growing industry in the world, computing, is male dominated.

What does Epstein believe about W/C boys?

W/C boys are more likely to be harassed if they appear as 'swots' leading to a 'laddish culture' and a self-fulfilling prophecy.

What does Sewell believe?

Education has become feminised, schools do not nurture masculine qualities such as competitiveness and leadership.

What is suggested by the male shortage of primary school teachers?

-Only 15% of primary school teachers are male, 37% of secondary school teachers.

-In 2007, 39% of 8-11 year olds had never had a lesson with a male teacher.

-Boys don't become teachers or value their education (42% said a male teacher would help them with this)

-However men are more likely to be head teachers showing men dominate senior positions.

What has caused a rise in female achievment?

1) Impact of feminism

2) Changes in the family

3) Changes in employment

4) Changing ambitions

What educational reform has been introduced to combat gender equality?

- Less coursework: it favoured female students, however in 2019 after a reduction in coursework the gender gap reduced.

- Requirement to study science improved gender gap.

- GIST and WISE (educational policies) encourage women to partake in STEM.

What are some statistics that illustrate gendered subject choice?

-English: girls do 7% better in

-Maths: boys do 8% better in

-Need 20,000 male nursing applicants per year to balance genders.

What is the influence of reading on gendered achievement?

-100% of books have male characters, 25% have female characters

-Out of 100 best books, 53% had female characters that spoke. 19.5% female characters have career, compared to 80% of male characters.

How does gender role socialisation explain gender differences in subject choice?

-Byrne: teachers encourage boys to be tough whilst girls are expected to be quiet/tidy

-Murphy and Elwood: different tastes in reading lead to different subject choices.

-Browne and Ross: children's beliefs about gender domains shape their expectation of adults. Girls are more confident in tasks about food and nutrition whilst boys are more confident about maths.

How do gendered subject images affect subject choice?

-Kelly: science is seen as a boys subject because in textbooks boys are used as examples, boys are more dominant, and science teachers are more likely to be men.

-Colley: computer science is seen as masculine because of working with machines and teaching methods put off girls.

How does gender identity and peer pressure affect subject choice?`

-Paetcher: pupils see sport as more masculine

-Dewar: girls involved in sport are more likely to be called "lesbian" or "butch".

-In single sex schools, absence of gendered peer pressure explains why girls are more likely to choose traditional boys subjects.

How do gendered career opportunities affect subject choice?

-Employment is highly gendered (jobs tend to be sextyped as men and womens)

-Women have a limited career route: over half of womens employment fall under clerical, secetarial, personal services and cleaning.

-Boys are less likely to have a job in childcare.

How do double standards influence gender identity?

-Lees: boys can boast of sexual exploits whereas girls are called slags.

-Feminists see this as evidence of patriarchal control.

How does verbal abuse influence gender identity?

Lees: verbal abuse often accompanies the double standards, used as a way of reinforcing male power.

Parker: term 'gay' used to reinforce gender norms.

How do male peer groups influence gender identity?

-Mac and Ghaill: W/C 'macho lads' were dismissive of other W/C lads who do well. M/C boys portray themselves as achieving with minimal effort, whilst actually working hard.

How does the male gaze influence gender identity?

-Acts as a form of surveillance- reinforces dominant heterosexual masculinity.

How do female peer groups influence gender identity?

-Ringrose: girls police sexual identity, being popular is crucial.

-Tension between an idealised female identity and a sexualised identity.

-Currie et al: relationships with boys can lead to symbolic capital but also 'slut shaming'

How does teachers and discipline influence gender identity?

-Haywood/Mac and Ghaill: tell boys off for behaving like girls, and are also teased in gaining lower marks in tests.

-Askew and Ross: male protective attitudes can often subtly reinforce gender stereotypes- females need protecting.