Gender Differences in Achievement

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Key words and theorists

Theorists:

McRobbie

O'Connor

Swann

Beck and Beck-Gernsheim

Boaler

French

Fuller

Biggart

Jackson

Mitsos and Browne

Weiner

Gorard

Elwood

Sharpe

Reay

Slee

Key terms:

aspirations - goals or hope of achieving something

challenging stereotypes - actively encouraging deviation from gender norms

coursework - method of assessment that involves a drafted, extended essay, completed over several months

Equal Opportunities Policies - governmental/school policies that aim to provide the same opportunities to all students (recently there has been emphasis in offering female students more opportunities in science-based subjects

external factors - things that affect educational achievement from outside school e.g) family and wider society

feminism - sociological theory that society is based around the male, patriarchal domination of women

gender gap - the difference between males and females (in this case, in educational achievement)

internal factors - things that affect educational achievement from inside school

role models - successful people students look up to, in terms of careers, subject choice or gender role socialisation

selection - pupils are more likely to be selected on educational applications if female (because they are more academically capable, statistically speaking)