year 13 autumn mock sociology mess

Mac an Ghaill (1994) - crisis of masculinity

Suggests decline in traditional male working-class jobs is also a factor in explaining why many boys (particularly working-class boys) are underperforming in education

Crisis of masculinity, how does it link to differential achievement?

May lack ambition and motivation as they feel they only have limited prospects and that qualifications won’t get them anywhere so don’t see the point in trying.

crisis of masculinity evaluation/critique

Crisis of masculinity is unlikely to bring about underachievement by itself, it is intertwined with in-school factors such as the ‘Laddish subcultures’ which actually cause the underachievement of boys.

Gorard (2005) - gender socialisation

Girls are more successful in coursework because they are more conscientious and better organised than boys. They spend more time on their work, are better at meeting deadlines and take more care. These characteristics and skills are the result of early gender role socialisation in the family.

example of gender role socialisation

E.g girls are more likely to be encouraged to be tidy and patient, which is an advantage in today’s education system as these are positive traits, helping girls achieve greater success than boys.

gender socialisation ao2

Such socialisation may encourage boys to develop more interest in technical and scientific subjects, and discourage girls from taking them.

Beck & Beck-Gernsheim (2002), gender socialisation ao3

individuals are compelled now to make agonistic choices throughout their life-course – there may be no guidance – and they are required to take sole responsibility for the consequences of choices made or, indeed, not made.

YouGov (2007), lack of male teachers

14% of primary school teachers are male.

39% of 8-11 year old boys have no lessons whatsoever with a male teacher.

Most boys surveyed said the presence of a male teacher made them behave better and 42% said it made them work harder

lack of male teachers ao2

Some argue that this is because the culture of primary schools has become more feminised as a result of being staffed by female teachers, who are unable to control boys’ behaviour.

In this view male teachers are better, stricter disciplinarians and so that helps boys’ concentration

Read (2008), lack of male teachers ao3

Found that most teachers favoured a ‘masculine’ disciplinarian discourse of control disproves the claim that the culture of primary school has become feminised. 

Norman (1988), gender socialisation

Notes from an early age, boys and girls are dressed differently, given different toys, and encouraged to take part in different activities.

gender socialisation, subject counsellors ao2

Subject counsellors and careers advisors often channel students into subjects based on stereotypes formed by their own socialisation. 

Girls are likely to accept this advice as they have been socialised to accept these stereotypes.