Differences in educational achievement refer to the significant differences in educational success and failure. This difference can be found between the two genders where it is a fact that girls outperform boys in the education system; some may argue that this is a result of factors outside of school. The validity of this or whether the differences are caused by factors outside school will be discussed.
One reason as to why it can be argued that gender differences in educational achievement are caused by factors outside school is because of changes in society’s views on females. In past generations, girls would not attend school and instead stay at home and learn from their mother how to cook and look after children, they were nurtured to become housewives for their future husbands. This meant that women had low aspirations, however this has changed. Sue Sharpe argues that this is a result of a gender quake that society is experiencing. Previously, girls had aspired to get married at a young age and become mothers to children early on in their lives. However, girl’s priorities have changed to getting an education so that they can have a career (Francis and Skelton) and therefore being able to support themselves above all other priorities rather than relying on a husband. This therefore means society accepts that it is normal for girls to get an education and provide for themselves; therefore society’s views on women can be argued to be an important outside school factor to influence gender differences in education achievement. Furthermore, feminist would generally accept that society is more equal than before and that women are succeeding now than in past generations.
Also, another reason for gender differences in educational achievement being caused by outside school factors is because of the difference in amount of effort and dedication put in learning outside of