2. Gendered subject images
• Some subjects are seen as ‘girl’s’ or ‘boy’s’ subjects
• Alison Kelly – science teachers are more likely to be men
- examples in text books draw on boy’s experiences
• Anne Colley (1998) – Computer studies is seen as masculine
• working with machines is part of the ‘male domain’
• It tends to be taught in ways that suit boys, with little opportunity
for group work
3. Gendered subject images
• Pupils who attend single sex schools typically hold less stereotyped
subject images
4. Peer pressure
• Subjects outside the gender domain of an individual
can lead to a negative response from peers
• Carrie Paetcher (1998) pupils generally see sport as
within the male domain
• Alison Dewar (1990) in American colleges, male
students would call girls ‘lesbian’ or ‘butch’ if they
appeared more interested in sports.
5. Gendered career options
• Employment is highly gendered
• ‘Women’s work’ is often similar to work
performed by housewives
• Childcare
• Nursing
• Over half of women’s employment fits into 4
categories; clerical, secretarial, personal
services and cleaning
• Only 1/6 of male workers work in these areas
