4.2 Gender & Identity & Boys' achievement

• Is the differential educational achievement bigger in class or gender?

  Class is 3x bigger
• How does lack of male teachers affect achievement?

  Fewer male teachers & role models outside school

  1.5 million boys brought up by single mothers

  Female teachers 'unable' to discipline in strict ways that boys need
• How do laddish subcultures affect achievement?

  (Epstein) If a WC boy is a swot, they're likely to be harassed and labelled as sissies

  Being labelled as a swot threatens masculinity

  WC culture sees masculinity as being tough and doing manual work

  Academic work seen as inferior
• How does the feminisation of education affect achievement?

  (Sewell) accused education of becoming feminised

  In challenging the patriarchal system, we have "thrown the boy out with the bath water"

  Schools don't nurture 'masculine' traits like competitiveness & leadership & encourage 'feminine traits' like organisation & attentive
• How does the decline of traditional men's jobs affect achievement?

  Globalisation in 80s caused a decline in heavy industries

  (Mitsos & Browne) decline in male employment led to an 'identity crisis'

  Results in belief they wont get a proper job leads to low self esteem and motivation to get good grades
• How does boys & literacy affect achievement?

  Parents spend less time reading with their sons

  Mothers normally do the reading

  'Boys' hobbies' like sports do little to develop language & communication
• What were the social policies to raise literacy in boys?

  Reading champions uses male role models showing their reading interests

  Playing for success uses sport to boost learning skills & motivation for boys
• What did Evans find about WC girls' motivation?


  They wanted to achieve, but for their families & stayed local out of economic necessity & its part of WC habitus
• How do WC girls experience symbolic violence?

  Feminists say that its between their hyper-heterosexual feminine identities and the school values
• What percentage of non FSM girls achieved 5 A*-C GCSEs?

  67%
• What percentage of FSM girls achieved 5 A*-C GCSEs?

  40%