These change are also reflected in media images & messages - McRobbie's study compared girls mags in 70s which emphasised importance of getting married and 'not being left on the shelf' whereas in 1994 they contained images of assertive, independent women
These changes encouraged by feminism may have gone some way to affect girls' self-image & ambitions with regard to family & careers - in turn this may explain improvements in their ed achievement
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Changes in the family
More female headed households (due to increase in divorce, cohabitation, reduction in 1st marriages)
Therefore more women are main breadwinners - role models for girls - financially independent women - well paid jobs - good qualifications
Increase in divorce rate - can't rely on husbands to provide - encourages girls to be financially independent
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Changes in women's employment
1970 Equal Pay Act = illegal to pay women less than men for work of equal value
1975 Sex Discrimination Act = outlaws sex discrimination in employment
Women in employment has risen from 47% in 1959 -> 67% in 2013 (rise in part-time & flexible work)
Since 1975, pay gap between men & women has fallen from 30% -> 15%
Some women are breaking through the 'glass ceiling' & taking up high-professional managerial jobs
Has encouraged girls to see their future as paid work not housewives
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Girls changing ambitions
Sue Sharpe - interviewed girls in 70s whose priorities were: 'love, marriage, husbands, children, career' - they saw educational success & ambition as unfeminine & unattractive - girls she interviewed in 90s had different order of priorities 'careers & financial independence' rather than dependent on their husband & his income
O'Conner's 2006 study of 14-17 year olds found that marriage & children were not major part of their life plans
Fuller's 2011 study of girls found they saw ed success as central aspect of their identity - they were creators of their own future & aimed for professional career that would enable them to support themselves - these aspirations clearly require qualifications
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