Gender and Achievment Summary
How has gender attainment changed? Sociologists have noticed a complicated and changing relationship between gender and achievement Historically boys have outperformed girls but over the past 30 years, girls have become the higher attainers This rise may reflect broader social changes such as Legal and policy reforms; Sex Discrimination Act 1975; programmes such as GIST; National Curriculum
Social Change? Higher expectations from parents, (Douglas) teachers (Stanworth, Francis) Shifting aspirations of girls themselves Some Sociologists describe boys as “new underachievers” (Phillips) and explain this with the following factors The decline of traditional “male” work The “Feminisation” of Education Changing expectations of boys (Myhill & Jones) The attitudes of boys themselves (Sukhnandan)
Have things really changed? Some theorists would say that gender bias still exists in subjects (Colley 2001) There are still less girls taking subjects such as Maths, Science and Technical courses Why? Early socialisation through toys, books and teachers’ expectations determine gender expectations (Oakley, Francis) Limited opportunities in the workplace Discuss Sociological explanations for the underachievement of boys in education (12mks)