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

2. Link to Methods (Methods in Context)
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.
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
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
The Abortion Reform Act 1969
Divorce Reform Act 1970
McRobbie (1994):
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.

3. 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?
Primary Socialisation:
Perhaps traditional ‘Female’ socialisation is more suited to education than typical ‘Male’ socialisation?
Increased Divorce Rate
Decline in Marriage Rate
Lobban found that, in story books, females tend to be portrayed as dependant, passive, quiet & sensible whereas boys were more adventurous, active, independent & ‘boisterous’.
Decline in Birth Rates
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)

4. Link to Methods (Methods in Context)
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.
According to Webb et al (2008):
> The number of women in employment went up from 47% in 1959 to 70% 2007
The 1970 Equal Pay Act:
Makes it illegal to pay one sex more than another for work of equal value.
> The pay gap between men & women has fallen from 30’% to 17% since 1975.
> More & more women are breaking through the ‘Glass Ceiling Effect’.
The 1975 Sex Discrimination Act:
Prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace.
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)

5. 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. +
4) Changing Social Attitudes, Perceptions & Ambitions:
3) Employment Opportunities for Women: +
2) Changes in the Family: +
1) The Feminist Movement & Women’s Rights
Increased Educational Success of Females =
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…….