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GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ACHIEVEMENT [EXTERNAL] - Coggle Diagram
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ACHIEVEMENT [EXTERNAL]
IMPACT OF FEMINISM
Feminism is a social movement that strives for equal rights for women in ll areas of life
since 1960s feminist movement has challenged the traditional stereotype of a womens role as sole that of the mother and housewife In a patriarchal nuclear family
Feminist movement has raised womens expectations and self-esteem
these changes are partly reflected in media images and messages
MCROBBIE'S study of girls magazines showed that in the 1970s they emphasised the importance of getting married and not being 'left on the shelf' whereas now they contain images of assertive, independent women
The changes encouraged by feminism may effect girls self-image and ambitions in regard to the family and careers
in turn this may explain improvements in their educational improvements
CHANGES IN FAMILY
Major changes since 1970s:
increase in divorce rate
increase in cohabitation
decrease in number of first marriages
increase in lone parent families
smaller families
These changes are affecting girls attitudes towards education in a number of ways
e.g increased number of female headed lone parent families may mean more women need to take on the breadwinning role
this in turn creates a new adult role model for girls - the financially independent woman
To achieve this independence, woman need well paid jobs and therefore good qualifications
likewise increase in the divorce rate may suggest to girls that its unwise to rely on husband to be their providors
CHANGES IN WOMENS EMPLOYMENTS
1970 EQUAL PAY ACT makes it illegal to pay women less than men for work of equal value
1975 SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT outlaws discrimination at work
Since 1975 the pay gap between men and women has halved from 30% to 15%
for full-time employees under 40, its close to 0
The proportion in womens employment has risen from 53% in 1971 to 72% in 2020
the growth of the service sector and flexible part-time work has offered opportunities for women
since women are now breaking through the glass ceiling the invisible barrier that keeps them out of high-level professional and managerial jobs
these changes have encouraged girls to see their future in terms of paid work rather than as housewives
greater career opportunities and better pay for women and the role models that successful career women offer, provide an incentive for girls to gain qualifications
GIRLS CHANGING AMBITIONS
Changes in the family & employment are producing changes in girls ambitions, supported by evidence research
e.g sue sharp's interview with girls in the 197-0s and 1190s show a massive shift in the way girls see their future
in 1974 girls had low aspirations , believed educational success was unfeminine and appearing too ambitious is unattractive
by 1990s girls ambitions had changes and they had different priorities- careers and being able to support themselves
BECK & BECK-GERMSHEIM link this trend towards individualisation in modern society where independence is valued more strongly than the past
a career has become part of a woman's life because it promises recognition and economic self-suffieciency
in order to achieve this many girls now recognise hey need a good education
FULLER 2011 - for some girls in her study, educational success was a central aspect of their identity
they saw themselves as creators of their own future and believed in meritocracy
CLASS, GENDER & AMBITION
however there are class differences in how far girls ambitions have changed
some w/c girls continue to have gender stereotypes aspirations for marriage and children