Read the section on Gender and subject choice on pages 132 to 136 of the book.
Now study tables 3C and 3D in the book and answer the following questions:
A. A levels
- What proportion of those studying Physics are male?
- What proportion of those studying Sociology is female?
- Which Science subject attracts more female than male students?
- Which subject has the highest proportion of male students?
- Which subject is most equally balanced in terms of its gender profile?
- What do you think the male-dominated subjects have in common?
- What do you think the female-dominated subjects have in common?
B. Work based learning
- What proportion of those studying Information and communication technology is male?
- What proportion of studying Health, public services and care are female?
- What proportion of all young people in work based learning are female?
- Which subject has the highest proportion of male students?
- Which subject has the highest proportion of female students?
- Which subject is most equally balanced in terms of its gender profile?
- What do you think the male-dominated subjects have in common?
C. For both types of learning (A levels and work based)
- Identify and explain four factors that may influence a student in their subject choice.
- Why is it true to say that vocational courses show a ‘more exaggerated pattern’ of gender choices than A level?
- Why did the introduction of the National Curriculum produce an increase in gender differences in subject choice?