4 - feminism of girl's achievement

• • Girls in 1970/80s did better in primary but lost motivation at 16.
  • Girls did less A levels and went to university less than boys.
  • Qualifications were less important as women were expected to be wives and mothers.
  • More inclined to choose arts and humanities at A-level and degree now.
  • Science and maths dominated by men with exception to biology.
  • Girls are less wellpaid in occupations.
• Since 1960s, feminism challenged these traditional stereotypes of a woman's role as mother/housewife within a patriarchal family. It raised the expectations of girls in careers and family.
• McRobbie (1970s and 90s)

  Compared girls magazines. In the 1970s, they detailed the importance of getting married. In the 1990s, they detailed career and independence.
• Sue Sharpe (70s/90s)


  Interviews same as McRobbie.
• Women in employment went from under 50% in 1959, to over 70% in 2007.
• Women had to break through the barrier of the 'glass ceiling' to higher professions that had previously been denied to them. This provides incentive to take education seriously.
• Arnot (1999)


  More middle class girls in university in the 1960s than before and more female comprehensive teachers to model feminist ideals and encouragement.
• New developments allowing women to succeed in education:

  • Sex Discrimination Act (1975)
  • Contraceptive pill
  • Labour saving devices
• Anita Roddick


  Encouraged women to take business related courses to become entrepeneurs.