Gender and Achievement: Introduction and key issues

Perceptions of learning

What are the attitudes towards, and choice of, subjects between boys and girls? How are these associated with the perceptions of subjects?

• Boys consider the literacy experience as female from an early age - reading and writing are associated with 'feminine' forms of expression, exploration of personal experience in poetry, etc.

• Science, mathematics, technology, ICT and PE are rated as 'masculine' by pupils and preferred by boys. Girls rate English, humanities, music, PSE and RE as 'feminine' and these subjects are preferred by girls.

• If it is true that subject choices are becoming less stereotyped, it is mainly in one direction: girls are more prepared to tackle 'masculine' subjects, especially those perceived as having a high status. Whilst the majority of boys still shun 'feminine' subject choice.

• There is evidence that teachers' gender values and expectations play an important role in shaping pupils' perceptions of, and reactions, to school.

• Occupational opportunities remain heavily structured by gender. Young women are still selecting business and commerce, hairdressing, and beauty and caring services, while young men are still choosing engineering, construction and mainstream science subjects.