Overview

• How does gender impact education experiences?

  It significantly influences achievement levels.
• What trend has been observed in gender achievement levels?

  Girls have overtaken boys in achievement.
• What is one area where gender patterns have been slow to change?

  Subject choice in education.
• What evidence shows differences in achievements between genders?

  • Girls ahead by 17% at school start.
  • Girls outperform boys at Key Stages 1-3, especially in English.
  • Gender gap at GCSE is around 10 percentage points.
  • Girls more likely to pass AS and A-Level.
• What has contributed to the significant gap in GCSE achievements?

  Girls' rate of improvement has been more rapid.
• What are external factors affecting gender differences in achievement?

  Home background and wider society influences.
• What is feminism's goal in education?

  Equal rights for women in all areas.
• How has feminism impacted women's roles since the 1960s?

  Challenged traditional stereotypes of women.
• What significant legislation has been passed for women's rights?

  Equal Pay Act and Sex Discrimination Act.
• How has feminism influenced women's expectations?

  Raised expectations and self-esteem for women.
• What major changes in family structure have occurred since the 1970s?

  • Increased divorce rates.
  • Rise in cohabitation, decrease in first marriages.
  • Growth of lone-parent families.
• How do changes in family structure affect girls' attitudes towards education?

  Encourages girls to seek financial independence.
• What is the significance of the 1970 Equal Pay Act?

  It prohibits unequal pay for equal work.
• What does the term 'glass ceiling' refer to?

  Invisible barriers to women's career advancement.
• How has the pay gap between genders changed since 1975?

  It has halved from 30% to 15%.
• How do girls' changing ambitions relate to family and employment changes?

  They see careers as essential for independence.
• What did O’Connor's study reveal about girls' life plans?

  Marriage and children were not major plans.
• What is the impact of individualisation on girls' ambitions?

  Independence is valued more strongly now.
• What are the internal factors affecting gender differences in achievement?

  • Equal opportunities policies.
  • Positive role models in schools.
  • Changes in assessment methods favoring girls.
• What is the purpose of GIST and WISE policies?

  Encourage girls in non-traditional careers.
• How do positive role models in education affect girls?

  They inspire girls to achieve positions of authority.
• How do assessment changes favor girls over boys?

  Girls are more conscientious and organized.
• What did Spender's research find about teacher attention?

  Teachers spend more time with boys than girls.
• What effect does removing gender stereotypes from learning materials have?

  It removes barriers to girls' achievement.
• How do school league tables benefit girls?

  High-achieving girls are attracted to better schools.
• What are the two views of girls' achievement among sociologists?

  1. Liberal Feminists:

  • Celebrate progress and advocate for more.

  1. Radical Feminists:

  • Recognize achievement but emphasize patriarchy remains.
• What social class differences exist in girls' achievement?

  40.6% of poorer girls achieve 5 A* to C GCSEs.
• What is 'symbolic capital' according to Archer et al.?

  Status and recognition obtained from others.
• How do W/C girls navigate their identities in school?

  They perform feminine identities for peer recognition.
• What is the impact of hyper-heterosexual feminine identities (HHFI) on girls?

  It can conflict with school expectations.
• How do boyfriends affect girls' educational aspirations?

  They lower aspirations for higher education.
• What characterizes 'loud' feminine identities among W/C girls?

  They are outspoken and assertive in class.
• What challenges do 'successful' W/C girls face in higher education?

  Gender and class identities may disadvantage them.
• What is a major concern regarding boys' achievement?

  Boys are falling behind in education.
• What external factor contributes to boys' literacy issues?

  Parents read less to their sons.
• How do boys' leisure activities affect their literacy skills?

  They do not promote language development.
• What policies has the government introduced to improve boys' literacy?

  Dads and Sons campaign and Playing for Success.
• What has caused the decline of traditional men's jobs since the 1980s?

  Globalisation and relocation of industries.
• What is the 'identity crisis for men' according to Mitsos and Browne?

  Boys feel they have limited job prospects.
• How does the feminisation of education affect boys?

  It may undermine boys' motivation and self-esteem.