Sex Discrimination

There is a great deal of potential evidence, both for and against the idea that sexual discrimination (in all its forms, covert as well as overt) is a significant factor in differential educational achievement. In this section, therefore, we can structure the evidence more clearly by considering the basic arguments in terms of two ideas:

Firstly, that females in our education system suffer discrimination. In this respect we can consider arguments:

For the proposition, where the focus is on things like:

• The academic hierarchy.
• Stereotyped attitudes.
• Textbooks.
• Subject choice and activities.
• Role models

Against the proposition, where the focus is on things like:

• The legal framework

 

• Changes to the school curriculum

 

• Changing levels of achievement.

Secondly, the idea that, although females were, in the past, discriminated against in our education system, the reverse is now true. That is, the focus of attention has switched to ways in which males suffer discriminatory classroom practices. In this respect we can consider arguments:

For the proposition that men now suffer sexual discrimination that affects their levels of achievement. The focus here is on ideas like:

a

b

c

Against the proposition that men now suffer sexual discrimination that affects their levels of achievement. The focus here is on ideas like:

a

b

c