Feminism

• Feminist views on the role of education

  They see the education as transmitting patriarchal values
• Hidden curriculum


  Taught patriarchal values in schools
• Liberal feminists would point out these remaining issues of patriarchy in education while also acknowledging significant strides towards equality in the education system
• In the 1940s and 50s, under the tripartite system, boys had a lower pass rate for the 11+ than girls (essentially institutionally failing girls to ensure more boys can succeed) and some subjects being specifically for one gender or the other used to be institutional rather than based on apparent preference
• Stanworth noted that there will still higher expectations of boys and teachers would be more likely to recommend boys apply for higher education than girls at the same academic level
• Radical feminists


  Argue that the education system is still fundamentally patriarchal and continues to marginalise and oppress women
• Black and difference feminists


  Point out how not all girls have the same experience in education and that minority-ethnic girls are often victims of specific stereotyping and assumptions
• Sharpe found that London schoolgirls in the 1970s had completely different priorities and aspirations from similar girls in 1996. She found that while in the 1970s girls' priorities were marriage and family, in the 1990s this had switched dramatically to career
• Critics of feminist views on education


  • Education is an increasingly female-dominated sector (most teachers are women; an increasing number of managers are women because they are drawn from the available teachers)
  • The education system is increasingly resulting in female success and male underperformance
  • The education system is sending more and more girls into higher education