30 marker plan : gender

• INTRO:

  The difference in gender achievement is caused by internal factors such as the introduction of GCSEs and coursework and gender domains. Gender domains are the tasks/activities girls and boys associate with being either male of female. However others argue that differences in gender achievement are caused by external factors such as girls change in ambition and the impact of feminism .
• PARA 1

  Point - change in assessments

  Item - “ processes within schools”

  Evidence - Intro of GCSEs and coursework in 1998, Mistos and Browne ~ girls are more likely to be organised than boys

  Explanation - girls = spend more time on their work, take care with presentation, better at meeting deadlines and bring the right equipment -> more prepared -> achieve higher grades

  Evaluation - Elwood, 2005 : although coursework has some influence its unlikely to be the main cause due to exams > coursework for influence on grades
• PARA 2

  Point - girls changing ambitions

  Item - “outside school and wider society”

  Evidence - Sharpe, 1994: interviews w girls in 70s + 90s ~ 70s= low aspirations, educational success= unfemenine, 90s= changed ambitions, more likely to see future as independent career woman

  Explanation - this therefore leads to more role models -> inspired to work hard -> academic achievement

  Evaluation - O’Conner, 2001: study of 14-17 yrs found marriage+ children not major part of their life plans
• PARA 3

  Point - gender domains

  Item - NO ITEM REF

  Evidence - Browne+ Ross, 1991: gender domains shaped by primary socialisation where children learn to associate tasks with being either masculine [fixing car] or feminine [ looking after sick child]

  Explanation - means children are more comfortable w subjects they view to be in their domains eg: girls= English, sociology, and boys= physics,maths

  Evaluation - Murphy, 1991: when given the same tasks girls and boys focus on different aspects eg girls= feelings and boys= how things are made/work
• PARA 4

  Point - impact of feminism

  Item - NO ITEM REF

  Evidence - McRobbie, 1994: study of girls magazines 70s emphasised importance or marriage VS now contains images of assertive independent women

  Explanation - strive for = rights has challenged traditional service role and broken barriers -> encouraging young girls to enter traditionally male dominated sectors eg STEM

  Evaluation - Bryne, 1979: gender role socialisation shows teachers encourage boys = tough and girls= quiet and tidy which influences subject choice
• CONCLUSION

  internal factors = main reason due to primary socialisation [main internal factor] -> shapes childrens thinking

  external factors = can’t be ignored due to significant influence in shift in gendered roles eg: impact of femenism -> change in girls ambitions -> inspiration to enter male dominated industries

  HOWEVER this is partly due to the mentality they are bought up with so INTERNAL = more important