gender differences in achievement (girls)
the impact of feminism
feminist movement has considerably improved women's rights and opportunities through changes in law
reflected in the media
A02 girls magazines : in 1970s, they emphasised the importance of getting married and not being 'left on the shelf', nowadays, they show assertive, independant women
affecting girls self image and ambitions
changes in the family
A02 changes include : increases in divorce, cohabitation, lone-parent families,
changes in employment
1970 equal pay act, more women in paid employment
encouraged girls to see their future in terms of paid work rather than as housewives
more opportunities and better pay, provide incentives for girls to gain qualifications
girls changing ambitions
A02 sharpe's study :
links towards individualisation
career's promise recognition and economic self-sufficiency
A03 there are class differences in how far girls's ambitions have changed, some still have gender-stereotyped aspirations
mc.robbie
more women taking on the breadwinner role - creating role models for girls (financially independant)
to achieve independence, good qualifications are needed - encouraging girls to look after themselves
in 1970s, girls had lower aspirations, believing educational success was unfeminine and that being ambitious was unattractive
in 1990s, ambitions had changed, girls more likely to see their future as an independant woman with a career rather than as dependant on their husband and his income
equal opportunities policies
"the proportion of woman in employment has risen from 53% in 1971 to 67% in 2013"
policy makers are now much more aware of gender issues and teachers are more sensitive to the need to avoid stereotyping
A02 GIST + WISE : encouraging girls to pursue careers in non-traditional areas
A02 the introduction of the national curriculum allowed girls and boys to study the same subjects, which was not the case previously
positive role models
an increase in the proportion of female teachers - acting as role models for young girls
showing girls that woman can achieve positions of importance with a good education
GCSE and coursework
the changes in which pupils are assessed as favoured girls and disadvantaged boys
mistsos + browne : girls are more conscientious and better organised than boys
A02 girls spend more time on their work, are better at meeting deadlines, bring the right equipment to lessons
teacher attention
the way teachers interact with girls and boys differs
boys receive more attention because they attract more reprimands - disciplined more harshly
teachers respond more positively to girls, who they see as more cooperative, than to boys who they see as disruptive