What do feminists say education helps to maintain?

patriarchy and gender inequality. Schools reflect a male-dominated society.

What is a gender hierarchy in schools?

men holding most of the senior positions. Pupils see who is in charge.

Which is an example of gendered subject choice?

far more boys than girls choosing computing. The choice follows ideas about gender.

Why are role models important?

pupils are more likely to aim for what they see people like them doing. Seeing a woman scientist makes science seem possible.

Girls outperform boys at school, yet women still earn less on average. How would a feminist explain this?

inequality continues beyond school, through gendered subject choice, job markets and unpaid care. Good grades do not remove patriarchy.

The feminist view of education · Cambridge IGCSE Sociology

In plain words

In many countries girls now beat boys in almost every exam. Feminists are not ready to declare victory. They ask what girls and boys are steered towards, who runs the school, and why better grades have not yet meant equal pay.

9 things to know

Feminists argue that education has helped to keep gender inequality going, by reflecting and passing on the values of a patriarchal society.
The patriarchal culture of education: schools take male dominance for granted. Male power shows in who holds authority.
Gender hierarchy: in many school systems most classroom teachers are women, while a larger share of headteachers and senior staff are men. Pupils see men in charge.
Role models: pupils see few women in senior posts or teaching subjects such as physics and computing. Textbooks may show men as scientists and leaders.
Access to education: in some countries girls are less likely to go to school or to finish, because of poverty, early marriage, housework, or the belief that a son's schooling matters more.
Gendered curriculum and subject choice: girls and boys are steered towards different subjects. Boys are more likely to take physics and computing, and girls languages and caring subjects. This leads on to different jobs and unequal pay.
Teacher expectations: teachers may expect girls to be quiet and neat and boys to be loud and good at mathematics, and treat them accordingly.
Peer groups and social control: pupils police each other. Girls can be judged on their reputation, and boys can be mocked for working hard or for choosing "girls' subjects".
Criticism. Girls now outperform boys in many countries, and equal opportunities policies have changed schools. The feminist reply is that subject choice and pay remain unequal, and that many girls worldwide are still out of school.

Worked example

In a school, 85% of the pupils taking physics are boys and 80% of those taking health and social care are girls. Give a feminist explanation.

Subjects are seen as "male" or "female": a gendered curriculum.
Socialisation, teacher expectations and peer pressure steer pupils towards the subjects thought right for their gender.
Few women teach physics, so girls lack role models in the subject.
The result feeds a gendered job market, in which men's jobs tend to be better paid.

Tips and tricks

Feminism in education is not only about who gets the best grades. Subject choice, role models and what happens after school all count.
Use global evidence. Girls' access to schooling in poorer countries is a strong point for the feminist view.

5 questions, about 2 minutes.

It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.

The feminist view of education: 5 questions and answers

These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.

What do feminists say education helps to maintain?
- class inequality only
- patriarchy and gender inequality (the answer)
- value consensus
- a perfect meritocracy
Schools reflect a male-dominated society.
What is a gender hierarchy in schools?
- girls sitting at the front
- boys and girls in separate classes
- equal numbers of male and female pupils
- men holding most of the senior positions (the answer)
Pupils see who is in charge.
Which is an example of gendered subject choice?
- all pupils studying mathematics
- pupils choosing by timetable
- pupils choosing by teacher
- far more boys than girls choosing computing (the answer)
The choice follows ideas about gender.
Why are role models important?
- pupils are more likely to aim for what they see people like them doing (the answer)
- they set the examinations
- they pay school fees
- they replace teachers
Seeing a woman scientist makes science seem possible.
Girls outperform boys at school, yet women still earn less on average. How would a feminist explain this?Stretch
- girls' results are faked
- boys do not go to work
- inequality continues beyond school, through gendered subject choice, job markets and unpaid care (the answer)
- pay is unrelated to society
Good grades do not remove patriarchy.

5 questions

Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.

Worksheet

3 questions, 10 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.

The feminist view of education

Cambridge IGCSE Sociology 0495 · 10 marks · papermunch.org

Name ______________________________ Date ______________

What is meant by a "gendered curriculum"?[2]
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A curriculum in which some subjects are seen as suitable for boys and others for girls, so that pupils make different choices.
I got this one
Describe two ways in which education can reinforce gender inequality.[4]
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Any two, each described: gendered subject choice, steering girls and boys into different subjects; teacher expectations, treating girls and boys differently; a gender hierarchy, with men in most senior posts; a lack of female role models; peer pressure that punishes those who break gender norms.
I got this one
Explain one strength and one limitation of the feminist view of education.[4]
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Strength: it highlighted inequalities that had been ignored, such as gendered subject choice and unequal access, which led to equal opportunities policies. Limitation: in many countries girls now outperform boys, which suggests that education no longer holds girls back there.
I got this one

Answers: The feminist view of education

1. A curriculum in which some subjects are seen as suitable for boys and others for girls, so that pupils make different choices.
2. Any two, each described: gendered subject choice, steering girls and boys into different subjects; teacher expectations, treating girls and boys differently; a gender hierarchy, with men in most senior posts; a lack of female role models; peer pressure that punishes those who break gender norms.
3. Strength: it highlighted inequalities that had been ignored, such as gendered subject choice and unequal access, which led to equal opportunities policies. Limitation: in many countries girls now outperform boys, which suggests that education no longer holds girls back there.