Sociology - Paper 3 - Chapter 7

How has the "Impact of Feminism" changed girls' educational achievement?

Feminism challenged the "homemaker" stereotype and raised girls' self-esteem. McRobbie (1994) noted magazines shifted from focusing on marriage (1970s) to careers and independence (1990s).

What did Sue Sharpe (1994) find regarding girls' changing ambitions?

In the 1970s, girls prioritized "love, marriage, and husbands." By the 1990s, their priorities shifted to "careers and being able to support themselves."

How do changes in the family incentivize girls to gain qualifications?

Increased divorce rates and female-headed lone-parent families provide role models of the "independent woman," making education a necessary safety net for self-reliance.

What is the "Crisis of Masculinity" (Mac an Ghaill)?

The decline of traditional heavy industries (de-industrialization) means working-class boys no longer have guaranteed manual jobs, leading them to feel academic qualifications are "useless."

How does Tony Sewell explain the "Feminization of Education"?

He argues schools reward "feminine" traits (quietness, obedience) and fail to nurture "masculine" traits (competitiveness), making boys feel the classroom is a "female space."

What is "Canalisation" (Fiona Norman)?

The process where parents steer children toward different toys and activities based on gender, such as encouraging boys to be active and girls to be "talk-based."

How do "Gender Domains" (Browne and Ross) affect subject choice?

Tasks are seen as falling into "male" or "female" territories. Girls may choose Health and Social Care (caring domain) while boys choose Physics (fixing domain).

What is "Bedroom Culture" (McRobbie)?

The tendency for girls to spend leisure time talking and reading with friends, which fosters the linguistic and communication skills rewarded by the school system.

What is "Hegemonic Masculinity" in schools?

A dominant form of masculinity that prizes physical strength and rejects schoolwork as "effeminate" or "unmanly," leading to underachievement.

How do "Laddish Subcultures" (Epstein) lead to boys' underachievement?

Working-class boys face peer pressure to avoid being labeled "sissies" or "swots." To maintain status, they reject authority and "mess about" in class.

What is the "Ideal Pupil" label in relation to gender?

Teachers often perceive girls as the "ideal pupil" (compliant and organized), leading to positive labels and higher-stream placement.

How does teacher attention differ by gender (French and French)?

Boys receive more overall attention, but it is typically negative/disciplinary. Girls receive less attention, but it is more supportive of academic success.

What did Mary Fuller’s (1984) study show about Black girls?

They formed a subculture that was "pro-education" but "anti-school," rejecting negative teacher labels while working hard in private to succeed.

How do subcultures "police" subject choice?

Students may face ridicule from peers for "crossing the line" into a subject that doesn't fit their gender domain (e.g., a boy taking Drama).

How does the removal of coursework affect the gender gap?

Mitsos and Browne argue girls are more organized and benefit from coursework; while its removal narrowed the gap slightly, girls still lead in terminal exams.

What is the "Triple Disadvantage" in education?

The intersection of Class, Gender, and Ethnicity; for example, the gender gap is widest among Black Caribbean students, and working-class boys are one of the lowest-achieving groups.