Topic 4 - External factors + gender differences in achievement

Feminism social movement for equal rights for women. Challenged stereotypes since 1960s.

Although fems argue not yet full equality, made success in improving rights + opps.

Changes reflected in media. McRobbie's (1994) study of girls' magazines. In 70s, emphasised importance of getting married, not being 'left on the shelf'. Now, images of assertive, independent women.

Changes encouraged by fem may affect girls' ambitions - may explain improvements in their ed achievement.

Changes since 1970s inc:

• increase in divorce rate
• increase in cohabitation + decrease in number of first marriages
• increase in number of lone-parent families
• smaller families

Changes affecting girls' attitudes to ed - increased number of female-headed lone-parent families, women need to take breadwinner role - creates new adult role model for girls - financially independent woman. To achieve this, need well-paid jobs, good qualifications - work harder in school.

Increases in divorce rate suggest unwise to rely on husband to be provider - encourages to get own qualifications to make living.

• 1970 Equal Pay Act makes it illegal to pay women less than men, 1975 Sex Discrimination Act outlaws discrimination at work.
• Since 1975, pay gap halved from 30% to 15%.
• Proportion women in employment risen from 53% (1971) to 67% (2013). Growth of service sector + flexible part-time work offered opps for women.
• Some women now breaking through 'glass ceiling' - invisibe barrier that keeps them out of high-level professional + managerial jobs.

Changes encourages girls to see future in terms of paid work rather than housewives. Greater career opps, better pay + role models successful career offer - incentive for girls to gain qualifications.

Sharpe's (1994) interviews w/ girls in 1970s + 1990s - shift in how girls see future. 1974, low aspirations - ed success unfeminine, ambitious unattractive. Priorities: 'love, marriage, husband, children, jobs + careers' - in that order.
1990s, ambitions changed - priorities in diff order. Girls more likely to see future as independent woman w/ career.

O'Connor's (2006) study 14-17 y/os - mariage + children not part of major life plans.

Beck + Beck-Gernshei (2001) - link to individualisation in modern society, independence valued more strongly. Career become part of woman's life project - promises recognition + econ self-sufficiency.

To achieve independence + self-sufficiency, girls recognise need good ed. For some in Fuller's (2011) study, ed success central part of identity Saw themselves as creator of own future + had individualised notion of self. Believed in meritocracy, aimed for professional career - allow them to support themselves. Require qualifications.

Class diffs in how far girls' ambitions changed. Some w/c girls have stereotypical aspirations. Expect to be in low paid women's work.

Ready (1998) - reflects reality of class position. Limited aspirations reflect limited job opps see as available to them.

Biggart (2002) - found w/c girls more likely to face uncertain position in labour market - see motherhood only option - less point achieving in ed. Eg, most of low-asp w/c girls in Fuller's study not interest in staying at school - desire for low-level jobs.