subject choice and sexual identity

• What have sociologists found about gender differences in subject choice?

  There are still gender differences present
• What is the percentage of female construction apprentices?

  1%
• Why do bigger gender differences appear in post-16 education?

  There is more choice available
• What do most subjects in the national curriculum have in common?

  They are compulsory
• How do boys and girls choose differently in subjects like food technology and woodwork?

  Girls choose food technology, boys choose woodwork
• What are the main explanations for gender differences in subject choice?

  • Gender role socialisation
  • Gendered subject image
  • Gender identity and peer pressure
  • Gendered career opportunities
• What is gender role socialisation?

  It is the process of learning gender roles
• How are boys and girls treated differently in the family during socialisation?

  They are dressed differently and given different toys
• What did Byrne (1979) find about teacher expectations for boys and girls?

  Boys are encouraged to be tough, girls to be quiet
• What did Murphy and Elwood (1998) discover about boys' and girls' reading preferences?

  Boys read information books, girls read stories
• What are gender domains?

  Activities seen as 'male' or 'female'
• How are gender domains established?

  They are set during primary socialisation
• What did Browne and Ross (1991) find about children's comfort in tasks?

  Children are more confident in their gender domain
• How might a math problem about food affect boys and girls differently?

  Girls may prefer food context, boys may not
• What is meant by a gendered subject image?

  Subjects are perceived as male or female
• How does the gendered image of subjects affect student enrollment?

  More boys take subjects seen as 'male'
• Who mainly teaches science subjects?

  Male teachers
• What impact do gender stereotypes have on boys and girls?

  They pressure each other to conform
• Why might boys avoid creative subjects?

  Due to negative peer responses
• What contradiction exists for sporty girls?

  They contradict conventional female stereotypes
• What term did Dewar (1990) use to describe the labeling of sporty girls?

  'Lesbian' or 'butch'
• How are many jobs perceived in terms of gender?

  Jobs are seen as 'male' or 'female'
• Which profession is dominated by women?

  Nursing
• Which profession is dominated by men?

  Construction
• What concept does Connell associate with pupils' sexual and gender identities?

  'Hegemonic masculinity'
• What are the components of pupils' sexual and gender identities?

  1. Double standards
  2. Verbal abuse
  3. The male gaze
  4. Male peer groups
  5. Female peer groups
  6. Teachers and discipline
• What is meant by double standards in gender identity?

  Applying different moral standards to groups
• What did Lees find regarding boys and girls' sexual behavior?

  Boys boast, girls are labeled negatively
• What does "verbal abuse" refer to in the context of gender identities?

  A rich vocabulary of abuse reinforces identities
• How does verbal abuse affect gender identities?

  It reinforces dominant gender identities
• What term did Lees use for girls perceived as sexually available?

  "Slags"
• What term did Lees use for girls perceived as not sexually available?

  "Drags"
• What do the labels "slags" and "drags" signify in the context of gender norms?

  They reinforce gender norms and identities
• What label did Parker find boys received for being friendly with girls?

  "Gay"
• How do labels like "gay" relate to boys' actual sexual behavior?

  They often bear no relation to behavior
• What is the male gaze?

  The way men view women as sexual objects
• How does Mac an Ghaill interpret the male gaze?

  As surveillance reinforcing heterosexual masculinity
• What risk do boys face if they do not display heterosexuality?

  Being labelled "gay"
• How do male peer groups reinforce masculinity?

  Through verbal abuse and labeling
• What did Epstein find about pro-school working-class boys?

  They were likely to be harassed and labelled "gay"