Gender differences in achievement - External Factors

The impact of feminism - Outline

• Feminist movement has improved rights of women as well as raising the expectations and self esteem of women

• women no longer strictly bound to the ‘mother/housewife’ role

McRobbie (1994)

• study of girls magazines in the 70s

• emphasised importance of getting married and not being ‘left on the shelf’

• whereas nowadays, they contain images of assertive, independent women

The impact of feminism - Impact on achievement

Sharpe (1970s+90s)

• interviewed girls about their career aspirations and concluded that due to increased employment opportunities, female have become extremely ambitious and aim for ‘high professions’ such as doctors and solicitors

Changes in the family - Outline

• Primary Socialisation: Perhaps traditional ‘Female’ socialisation is more suited to education than typical ‘Male’ socialisation – Bedroom Culture

• More lone parents families headed by women and dual earning families raises girls aspirations

Changes in the family - Impact on achievement

• Bedroom culture- quiet, reading, submissive attitudes which are favoured in schools (ideal pupil)

• this has a positive impact on achievement as an ‘ideal pupil’ as it can turn into a self fulfilling prophecy

Changes in Women’s employment - Outline

Mitsos and Browne (1998)

highlight how the growing Service Sector/ Economy has created more ‘feminised’ career opportunities for women e.g. in Health Care, Hospitality, Teaching, Clerical, Childcare professions

• 1970 equal pay act

• 1975 sex discrimination act

• more women working - 53% in 1971 and 67% in 2013

Changes in Women’s employment - Impact on achievement

• changes have encouraged girls to see their future as more than housewives and mothers

• having great career opportunities and financial independence

• aspirations to get these jobs push girls to do well in education in order to achieve these career goals

Changing girl’s ambitions - Outline

• Decline of traditional gender roles - e.g. stay at home dad, dual earning families

Sharpe (1994) 1970s, girls had low aspirations and saw girls educational success as unfeminine

1990s, see future goals as independent women with a career

Beck and Beck Genshiem (2001)

• Individualisation in modern society - independence is highly regarded to gain recognition and status

Changing girl’s ambitions - Impact on achievement

• In order to achieve these desired goals of independence and self sufficiency, girls now realise the need for good education

• education becomes a central tenant to girls identity

Evaluations for all

Loden (1970)

• Glass ceiling still exists

Diane Reay (1998) Class, gender and ambition

• Some w-c girls still have traditional goals such as marriage, children and low paid jobs typically done by women

• She explains that this is because they see limited job opportunities available to them

• For them, having traditional gender roles especially being in a relationship, feels more realistic and gives them good social status

Bowles and Gintis - Myth of Meritocracy

• Argues that capitalism creates and legitimises class inequalities which can lead the poor to see it as unfair or resist the system

• However, they spread ideas that seem fair and natural legitimising class inequality and calling the education system a ‘myth making machine’

• This is because it promotes the believe that success is based on ability and effort, signifying that those who achieve the most, deserve it