Gender flashcards- policies

Equal opportunities

Girls into Science and Tech (GIST)

Women into Science and Tech (WIST) components

• ♀ scientists visit schools

• Science teachers aware of gender issues

• Non-sexist careers advice

• Learning materials to reflect ♀’s interests

ERA 1988

• Coursework

• National curriculum

• League tables

Coursework- girls do better

• More conscientious

• Better organised

• Spend more time on work

• Take more care in presentation

• Better at meeting deadlines

• Bring right equipment to lessons

Girls do better in oral exams

• Bedroom culture socialisation means are better at expressing selves verbally

• More likely to be:

  • Neat

  • Tidy

  • Patient

National curriculum benefits girls

• ♂&♀ study same subjects so no more woodwork vs home economics

• Girls have the opportunity to study subjects previously seen as boy’s subjects

League tables benefiting girls

• High-achieving girls attractive to good schools
  (then self-fulfilling prophecy)

League tables disadvantaging boys

• Boys less attractive to schools 

• Seen as ‘liability students’ due to being more likely to be excluded

• Obstacles to schools improving league table scores

• Give schools a ‘rough tough’ image that deters girls from applying

1970 Equal Pay Act impacts

• ♀ paid equally to ♂ so more financial incentive to enter the workplace

1975 Sex Discrimination Act impacts

• Halving of pay gap, making the workplace a more attractive place for ♀