Females and Science GCSE'S - Literature review Example

Download file to see previous pages... our, or sex…’ This was supposed to mark a fundamental shift the rights of females when it comes to education as this would basically mean both male or female student have a right to equal treatment in education. Participation and achievement of females in certain subjects and more especially science subjects was a major issue in the 1950s since schools were divided on sex basis. Single sex schools for boys and girls tough different subjects; boys were taught more academic subjects while girls were taught subjects more inclined to femininity and the home setting. “…the advent of free education for many girls had brought nothing more than the opportunity to learn, … all those domestic skills which they could, in former times, have learnt at home.” (Deem 1978, P. 17). Male domination continued to affect every aspect of society and children were introduced to this even in the education system where the girl was seen to be just capable of learning domestic related subject which were may be thought easy to handle.
Beginning in the 1970s feminists began to query the underachievement by girls in subjects such as science and mathematics. They found out that division in the curriculum was largely to blame inequalities in the education system which led to underachievement of girls in science and technical subjects and this led to educational reforms of 1988 which granted females an equal opportunity for education as males. They were therefore able to participate just like boys in the learning of all subjects including sciences. Major changes have been observed in examinations measuring the competence of students all the genders in academics and these changes are linked to the reforms brought about by the Education Act of 1988. Government has intervened significantly to ensure provision of equal education for all, and at the same time public views on gender have also changed positively. Prior of to the reforms of England’s education system, goals were socially ...Download file to see next pagesRead More