Feminist views on education - Sociology - AQA A-level.

General consensus view on education according to feminists?

They agree with functionalists and Marxists in respect of how the education system transmits a particular set of norms and values and encourages students to embrace them.

However, they believe that the norms and values which are reinforced are predominantly patriarchal.

What did Heaton and Lawson argue?

That the hidden curriculum taught patriarchal norms in schools, they noted that traditional family structures in textbooks (along with many other gendered stereotypes, subjects aimed towards specific genders, gender divisions in PE and sport) reinforce patriarchal values.

Predominantly female teachers (the feminisation of education), however, males are often in the place of headteacher, indicating that the organised hierarchy of schools reflects the inequalities that women face in the education system. Perhaps to reflect the glass ceiling effect.

What do liberal feminists suggest about education?

Through adopting a march of progress view, liberal feminists would point out these remaining issues of patriarchy within education, yet also acknowledge the significant strides towards equality in the education system.

In the 1940s and 50s, under the tripartite system boys had a lower pass rate for the 11+ exams than girls (essentially institutionally failing girls to ensure that more boys succeed.

Pointed out that the 11+ pass rates for girls was significantly higher.

Previously, there were gender typical subject choices, however, through the introduction of programmes such as GIST and WISE, subjects are optional for all.

However, this gender subject preference still dictates the education system.

What did Michelle Stanworth point out?

Noted that there are still higher expectations of boys and teachers would be more likely to recommend boys to apply for higher education than girls at the same level.

Radical feminist stance on education?

Argue that the education system is still fundamentally patriarchal and continues to marginalise and oppress women.

Achieves this by transmitting patriarchal ideology, through both the formal and hidden curriculum and normalising the marginalisation and oppression of women, so that when they leave school they passively accept their position.

Radical feminist research has looked into the sexual harassment in education and how it is not treated as seriously as other forms of bullying.

Significance of Kat Banyard's research?

A radical feminist who wrote a book on the oppression women continue to face in contemporary society (2011).

The book was named the illusion of equality.

Banyard believes that we are in living in a culture of 'hypermasculinity' - which enabled by the media, essentially coinciding with the concept of hegemonic masculinity.

Examples of this: males are often occupy the role of headteacher, perhaps this is why sexual harassment is not regarded to be as serious as other forms of bullying, due to their insular perspectives.

Intersectional feminists on education?

Point out how not every girl has the same experience in education and that minority ethnic members who are girls are often victims of specific stereotyping and assumptions.

For example, teachers may assume that Muslim girls have different aspirations in relation to career and from their peers.

There have been studies into the experiences of black girls, for example Margaret Fuller's study into Afro-Caribbean girls, who received negative labels from their teachers and that they became anti-school but pro-education and were successful in their examinations as they rebelled against their labels and used their teachers racial prejudice as a motivating factor to exceed their expectations.

What did Sue Sharpe find?

In the 1990s, Sue Sharpe found that the priorities of working class girls had changed since the 1970s from 'love, marraige and career' to 'job and career' focus.

Sharpe indicated that there a number of potential reasons for this, including legislative changes such as the 1970 Equal Pay Act, and the 1976 Sex Discrimination Act, are likely to have played a part, hence supporting a liberal feminist view.

What do all feminists agree on?

That the education system does work as an agent of secondary socialisation which teaches girls and boys what are known as universal norms and values and gender scripts that are actually of those of contemporary patriarchy and that girls and boys being taught these values prevents social change which leads to the continuation of the patriarchy.

Evaluation of feminism on education?

- education is an increasingly female dominated sector: which allows for the same-sex role identification process for many young girls, encouraging diligence in their work.

- the education system has now changed in terms of success, as the trends suggest that girls are continuing to outperform boys, which undermines the idea that girls are marginalised to fail - new legislative measures which have since replaced the Butler Act of 1944.

- Stanworths research has been criticised, because the findings are outdated and fail to reflect the contemporary world. This is because the education system is now sending more girls into higher education, contrary to previous practice.

Counterpoints of these evaluation points?

Legislative processes may have reformed inequality in a formal sense, however, feminists suggest this is purely an illusion (Banyard). Rather than the equal pay act being adhered to, research has suggested that discrimination towards women still occurs, just in a more covert manner. e..g the equal pay day, which is marked every year around November which represents how essentially women stop earning (theoretically and symbolically compared to men), as the gender pay gap has been argued to still exist within contemporary society.

- glass ceiling effect remains as males occupy the role of headteacher.

- Ann Oakley: dual burden continues, women still more likely to take time out of their career for rearing their children, meanwhile juggling a career and carrying out the majority of domestic chores.

- media pressures on girls, to conform to the standards of the male gaze - Mulvey, it is only worsening.