Get you thinking Which student is likely to leave school with the best qualifications and why?

Gender-Based Differences in Education: As well as Social Class, Gender is also said to impact heavily on levels of achievement within education. There are big differences between the performance of girls & boys in education as well as interesting patterns in terms of subject choice. Learning Objectives for this Topic; You should; >E: Be able to describe the patterns of Gender differences in educational achievement. >D: Understand & be able to evaluate the explanations for these differences. C-B: Understand & be able to evaluate the explanations for gender differences in subject choice A-A* All of the above and you are able to understand the effect of school experiences in shaping gender identities.

What do the Statistics tell us?... > Girls do better than boys at every stage in SATs (English, Maths & Science) > Girls generally out perform boys in GCSEs (except in Science based subjects) > More females stay on in post-16 education (FE & HE) > In GCSE English around 2/3 of girls achieve A*-C grades compared with only 1/2 of boys > Females are more likely than males to achieve 3 A-Level passes. > More females than males are accepted into Universities. Browne (2008) / Webb (2009) The ‘Gender-Gap’ in Education is evidenced in the following statistics: > In vocational studies females are more likely to achieve ‘Distinction’ passes (even in ‘traditional’ male subjects such as engineering & construction where they are the minority group. > Although both sexes have improved – females have/ are doing this more rapidly than males. Use page to discover at least 5 statistics about male and female performance in school. Be ready to feedback You have 5 minutes

Gender-Based Differences in Education: Sex : Gender: Refers to biological, physical differences between males & females. Refers to the learned differences between males & females i.e. learned ‘Masculinity’ & ‘Femininity’ Browne (2008) shows us that the achievement of males & females within education has ‘Roller-Coasted’: 1980s: Up until the 1980s there was major concern about females’ low achievement levels. 1990s: During the 1990s, Females began to significantly begin to outperform males (esp. W/C males) Present Day The concern nowadays is that males tend to be underachieving compared to females. It must be noted however that both male & females are achieving higher success rates than ever before (it is simply disproportionate between the 2 groups)……

Equal Opportunities Policies The Impact of Feminism In order to explain Female success, sociologists tend to split explanations into 2 main categories: External/ Outside School Explanations Internal/ Inside School Explanations Changing Social Attitudes, Perceptions & Ambitions Changes in the Family (inc. Socialisation) Changes in Women’s Employment Positive Role Models in Schools GCSEs & Coursework Selection & league Tables Teacher Attention, Stereotyping & Labelling The ‘Reproduction of Gender Inequality’. As you have seen, females tend to be out performing males across the board within education (bar science based subjects). Read pages to find out why girls out perform boys, use this to complete a mind map

Explaining Female Educational Success: External/ Outside School Explanations The Impact of Feminism External/ Outside School Explanations Changing Social Attitudes, Perceptions & Ambitions Changes in the Family (inc. Socialisation) Changes in Women’s Employment

1) The Feminist Movement & Women’s Rights The ‘Feminist Movement’ has improved the rights of women as well as raising expectations & self-esteem/ motivation of women. Women are no longer strictly bound to the ‘Mother/ Housewife Role’. Although Feminists would argue that true equality with males has not been fully achieved, many would agree that the position of women has greatly improved (particularly since the 1960s) & continues to do so. The Abortion Reform Act 1969 Sex Discrimination Act 1975 Divorce Reform Act 1970 Magazines such as Jackie in the 1970s emphasised the importance of getting married whereas nowadays priorities have changed & women are faced with more positive role models within the media. Girls Priorities (1976): Love, Marriage, Husbands, Children, Career. (1994): Career, Independence THEN MAYBE relationships etc. Link to Methods (Methods in Context) Sharpe (1976/1994): Just Like a Girl McRobbie (1994):

2) Changes in the Family: Think back to your work on changes within the family (SCLY1 Unit). What are the major changes & might they be linked to the improved educational success of females? Increased Divorce Rate Decline in Marriage Rate Decline in Birth Rates Increase in Lone-Parent Families (Usually Female headed) Decreasing Family Size Increase in Cohabitation This can also be linked to the March of Progress Theory (Young & Willmott 1973) Primary Socialisation: Perhaps traditional ‘Female’ socialisation is more suited to education than typical ‘Male’ socialisation? Lobban found that, in story books, females tend to be portrayed as dependant, passive, quiet & sensible whereas boys were more adventurous, active, independent & ‘boisterous’.

3) Employment Opportunities for Women: Mitsos & Browne (1998) highlight how the growing Service Sector/ Economy has created more ‘feminised’ career opportunities for women e.g. in Health Care, Hospitality, Teaching, Clerical, Childcare professions. The 1970 Equal Pay Act: Makes it illegal to pay one sex more than another for work of equal value. The 1975 Sex Discrimination Act: Prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace. According to Webb et al (2008): > The number of women in employment went up from 47% in 1959 to 70% 2007 > The pay gap between men & women has fallen from 30’% to 17% since > More & more women are breaking through the ‘Glass Ceiling Effect’. Interviewed girls about their career aspirations & concluded that, due to increased employment opportunities, females have become extremely ambitious & aim for ‘high professions’ such as Doctors & Solicitors. Francis (2001): Link to Methods (Methods in Context)

Increased Educational Success of Females = 4) Changing Social Attitudes, Perceptions & Ambitions: All of the previous arguments add weight to the argument that women are being perceived differently in contemporary society & that the ambitions of women are becoming bigger & more adventurous. 1) The Feminist Movement & Women’s Rights 2) Changes in the Family: + 3) Employment Opportunities for Women: + + 4) Changing Social Attitudes, Perceptions & Ambitions: Remember it is important that you identify these arguments, explain them, link them to increased educational success and ALSO evaluate the arguments before moving on…… You should also be aware that processes WITHIN schools might also contribute to female educational success…….

Homework Read pages on why boys under achieve and use the information to complete a detailed mind map, including scholars. Due 22 nd.