Outline & assess sociological explanations for changes in educational attainment by females

Outline & assess sociological explanations for changes in educational attainment by females

1. INTRO

   • Girls outperform in all GCSE's but A Levels don't differ much
   • Girls progress in education is not replicated in the workplace - Glass ceiling, men earn 20% more etc

2. FEMINIST VIEW

   • 60/70's feminists became a lot more prominent and helped women be seen as equals (Jane Greer)
   • Primary schools may be more feminine but males have the top roles - effecting girls attainment in education from a young age
   • Training schemes don't break down gender stereotypes
     • BUSWELL - Structured to reinforce inequality - jobs lead to low pay
       • FRANCIS ET AL - work placements, girls being channelled to creative and caring roles
   • NOT FAIR & GIRLS STILL BEING OPPRESSED THROUGH EDUCATION = EFFECTING ATTAINMENT

3. INTERACTIONIST VIEW

   • M/C white girls are the 'ideal' pupil
   • BECKER, ROSENTHAL AND JACOBSON - labelling
     • Self fulfilling prophecy

4. MARXIST VIEW

   • MAC AN GHAILL - crisis of masculinity
     • More office jobs, less manual jobs
   • Moral panic?
     • GORDON BROWN (2006) - w/c boys lowest achieving, likely to be excluded, 'wasted generation'
   • FRANCIS - Boys no longer see themselves as able as girls like in the 70/80's
   • WILLS - anti school subcultures (Lads and ear'oles)
     • * Girls have anti school subcultures too, JACKSON 'ladettes', BLACKMAN 'New wave'
       • SUBCULTURES CAN'T BE TO BLAME FOR ATTAINMENT LEVELS!
     • Boys reject education before it rejects them