Education And Inequality: Gender And Educational Attainment (Copy)
Education and Inequality: Gender and Educational Attainment
Core Patterns
| Trend | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Gender Gap | Girls now outperform boys at most levels of education. | UK GCSE/A-level results show female lead. |
| Subject Choice | Gendered patterns remain in subjects studied. | More boys in physics, more girls in English. |
| Higher Education | Female participation has grown, but gaps remain in elite fields. | Women underrepresented in engineering. |
| Labour Market | Educational gains do not fully translate into equal pay or status. | Gender pay gap persists despite higher female attainment. |
External (Outside School) Factors
| Factor | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Feminist Movement | Challenged stereotypes and raised aspirations. | Girls encouraged to pursue higher education since 1970s. |
| Family Changes | More women in paid work → role models for girls. | Working mothers shaping daughters’ ambitions. |
| Economic Shifts | Service sector growth created opportunities for women. | Jobs in healthcare, education, business. |
| Social Expectations | Cultural attitudes toward gender influence achievement. | Boys pressured into “masculine” anti-school subcultures. |
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change A2 Level Sociology Full Scale Course
Internal (In-School) Factors
| Factor | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Attention | Teachers may encourage girls and stereotype boys. | Boys disciplined more harshly. |
| Coursework | Girls perform better with sustained effort assessment. | GCSE coursework advantage pre-2010 reforms. |
| Labelling | Girls increasingly labelled as high achievers; boys as disruptive. | Becker’s “ideal pupil” shifting toward female traits. |
| Subject Stereotyping | Gender bias in subject content and teacher attitudes. | Science “boys’ subject,” English “girls’ subject.” |
Key Thinkers
| Thinker | Contribution | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sue Sharpe | Girls’ aspirations changed from marriage (1970s) to careers (1990s). | Longitudinal study on working-class girls. |
| Francis | Boys’ anti-school peer groups harm attainment. | Peer pressure discourages academic effort. |
| Willis | “Lads” subculture rejects school values, limiting success. | Working-class boys accepting manual jobs. |
| Mitsos & Browne | Coursework and teacher support favour girls. | Girls more organised in schoolwork. |
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change A2 Level Sociology Full Scale Course
Strengths and Criticisms
| View | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Highlights success of girls in modern education. | Female entry into universities exceeds male. |
| Strength | Identifies cultural and school-based reasons for gender gap. | Feminism and coursework reforms. |
| Criticism | Boys’ underachievement sometimes exaggerated. | Class and ethnicity often stronger factors. |
| Criticism | Women’s educational success not matched in workplace. | Glass ceiling and pay inequality. |
Quick Revision Phrases
- “Girls outperform boys, but inequalities persist.”
- “Feminism and role models raised female achievement.”
- “Boys’ anti-school subcultures harm attainment.”
- “Workplace inequality remains despite school success.”
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change A2 Level Sociology Full Scale Course