Gender and education

1. Gender and education A changing situation Andy Walker Learning Online

2. Some key facts about gender and education • The sociological debate falls conveniently into 2 halves • From the 1960’s through the 1970’s and until the mid 1980’s, girls were seriously underachieving in school at every level and sociology sought to measure the extent and to explain why this was so and to try to remedy the situation. Feminist sociologists such as Spender, Stanworth, Kelly, Sharpe were particularly influential in this field. • However, since then, the girls have clearly overtaken boys and it is now the underachievement of boys that is seen to be the problem Andy Walker Learning Online

3. Situation in the 1970s • Girls were slightly more successful than boys at O level. • Girls did better in English, MFL, and biology. • Boys did better at maths, physics and chemistry. • Boys were more successful at A level. • Girls were markedly less likely to go to University. • Girls were much more likely to follow secretarial type vocational courses. Andy Walker Learning Online

4. The situation today • In the early 1990’s girls began to outperform boys at most levels in education. • There is still concern over the somewhat stereotyped view of girls subjects and boys subjects (girls still under represented in sciences and technology). • Sociologists largely concern themselves with the problem of the underachievement of boys. Andy Walker Learning Online

5. Why are girls succeeding? • The women’s movement has raised expectations. Women no longer see their automatic first priority to be home and family. • There are increasing job opportunities for women especially in the service sector. • Girls have more positive role models today. • Schools have become more aware of equal opportunities. • Teachers are better trained and more aware of the dangers of gender stereotyping. • Girls worked harder and are more conscientious. • Changes in the organisation of education have favoured girls. Greater coursework favours the ways in which girls tend to learn. The National curriculum has guaranteed them access to all curriculum subjects. Andy Walker Learning Online

6. Why are boys failing? • Teachers apportion negative labels to boys and their behaviour and positive labels to girls – the self fulfilling prophecy. • Boys are more likely to be removed from class and excluded. They lose valuable teaching time. • The decline in traditional male jobs has had a negative effect on the motivation of boys. • Boys construct counter school cultures as an alternative way of achieving self esteem – school work is seen as unmasculine and sissy. Andy Walker Learning Online