Week 4 - Feminist Perspectives on Education Learning and Gender Week 4 - Feminist Perspectives on Education

Learning objectives: To recap the different types of feminism To apply these perspectives to education

Feminist theories: Three main types of feminism relevant to education: 1. Liberal 2. Marxist 3. Radical Also – Socialist feminism (dual system) Recap these by reading the sheet.

How do the different types of feminists view education today? In groups of 3 or 4, work out what each of the types of feminists would say about the education system: In relation to gender inequalities How would they criticise it? What sorts of evidence would they use to back up their criticisms? How would they change it?

Liberal feminists: Celebrate the progress made so far in improving achievements. Believe that more progress will be made by continuing to develop equal opportunities policies, encouraging positive role models and overcoming sexist attitudes and stereotypes. Also by changing gender role socialisation. Similar to the functionalists – education is a meritocracy where all individuals, regardless of gender, ethnicity or class are given an equal opportunity to achieve.

Radical feminists: More critical view – they recognise that girls are achieving more, but emphasise that the system remains patriarchal (male-dominated) and still conveys the message that it is a man’s world. For example: Sexual harassment of girls continues at school. Education still limits their subject choices and career options. Although there are now more female head teachers, male teachers are still more likely to become heads of secondary schools. Women are under-represented in many areas of the curriculum. Weiner (1993) describes the secondary school history curriculum as a ‘woman-free zone’.

Marxist Feminists: Argue that women’s roles in society are shaped and determined by the needs of the economy. Blame the capitalist system – women are forced into being socialised into supporting men both in the home and the workplace. Education enforces these expectations (and is part of the socialisation process) both on men and women.

Difference (black) feminists: Argue that to be black and female is a very different experience to being white and female. These different experiences can be seen in schools and colleges and the way teachers and books treat both groups of students differently.

Post-feminists: Argue that there is no single meaning to what it means to be a ‘woman’ but that women possess multiple identities i.e. black, white, gay, straight, working-class etc. and can be any or most of these at the same time. The lack of a single meaning as to what ‘female’ means confirms the post-modern idea that no single theory or concept can explain anything, including gender differences in education!