reasons for different subject choices

• early gender role socialisation

  • early socialisation: boys and girls being socialised by activities (toys)
  • barbies, kitchen sets socialise girls into nurturing subjects like health and social 
  • footballs, cars socialise boys into masculine subjects like sports
  • boys and girls feel more comfortable aligning their subject choices that are in their gender domain
• gendered subject images

  • science (boys) - has male teachers and male focused examples 
  • single sex schools remove stereotyped subject images - girls may consider science, pursuing male dominated fields instead
• gender identity and peer pressure 

  • discourages choices out of gender norms due to negative reactions from peers 
  • this leads to girls / boys avoiding male / female dominated subjects limiting opportunities 
  • single sex schools don’t have this pressure: allows girls to pursue male dominated fields
• gendered career opportunities 

  • job market is gendered - women are concentrated in domestic areas while men have wider ranges
  • this influences young people’s beliefs in acceptable careers, limiting their potential and subject choice