ex/internal factors girls achievement

what are external factors in achievements?

factors outside the education system, such as home and family background, and wider society

what are internal factors?

factors within schools and the education system, such as the effect of schools’ equal opportunities policies

what are the 4 external factors that effect girls achievements?

1. impact of feminism

2. changes in the family

3. changes in women’s employment

4. girls changing perceptions and ambitions

what’s the impact of feminism?

women gain independance

who did a study on girls’ magazines?

Angela McRobbie (1994)

what did this study show?

in 1970s they emphasised the importance of getting married and not being ‘left on the shelf’, whereas nowadays, they contain images of assertive, independent women

explain changes in the family?

it encouraged girls to look to themselves and their own qualifications to make a living

4 major changes in the family since the 1970s?

1. an increase in the divorce rate

2. an increase in cohabitation and a decrease in the number of first marriages

3. an increase in the number of single parent families

4. smaller families

explain changes in women’s employment?

girls see their future in terms of paid work rather than housewives. Greater career opportunities and better pay mean their are more role models for women

2 examples of an important change in women’s employment?

• the 1970 equal pay act - it’s illegal to pay women less than men for work of equal value.

• since 1975, the pay gap between men and women has halved from 30% to 15%. For full time employees under 40, it is close to 0.

what’s the last external factor?

girls changing ambitions

who interviewed girls in the 1970s and then 1990s?

Sue Sharpe

what was the difference in girls from 1974 to 1990?

1974 - girls had low aspirations, believed educational success was unfeminine, appearing ambition is unattractive, prioritised marriage and husbands

1990 - different orders of priorities, can support themselves, independent careers, less dependant on husbands

what are 6 examples of internal factors?

1. equal opportunity policies

2. positive role models

3. gcse and coursework

4. teacher attention

5. challenging stereotypes in curriculum

6. selection and league tables

explain equal opportunities policy?

the belief that boys and girls are entitled to the same opportunities is now part of the mainstream thinking and it influences educational policies

what is an example of a policy?

GIST and WISE

explain positive role models in school?

women in senior positions may act as a role model for girls, showing them women don’t have to aim for traditional roles

what percentage of school teacher are female?

76% of state-funded school teachers are female as of 2024/25

explain gcse and coursework?

some argue that changes in the way pupils are assessed favour girls and disadvantage boys

evidence?

Mitsos and Browne conclude

• girls spend more time on work

• meet deadlines

• bring correct equipment to lessons

explain teacher attention?

this may explain why teachers respond more positively to girls, whom they see as co-operative than boys, who they see and disruptive, promoting girls self esteem

explain challenging stereotypes in the curriculum?

removal of gender stereotypes from textbooks, reading schemes and other learning materials has removed a barrier for women

evidence?

Wiener argues that since 1980s, sexist images have been removed and teachers have challenged stereotypes

explain selection and league tables

marketisation policies have created a more competitive climate in which schools see girls as desirable recruits as they achieve better exam results

evidence?

slee argues boys are less attractive to schools as they’re more likely to have behavioural difficulties and are 4 times more likely to be excluded