Gender Differences in Education - Crisis of Masculinity | A Level Sociology

welcome to this Tut to you sociology topic video on gender differences in education looking at the crisis of masculinity the crisis of masculinity with reference to education is an external factor that influences the achievement of boys in education it's a term used to explain the reaction of males to the rapid social changes in the

latter part of the 20th century Mack andal suggested that one of the reasons for the for these changes was the widespread decline of traditional male workingclass jobs as the process of globalization led to heavy duty manufacturing moving from the UK to lower wage economies around the world for workingclass males these industries provided almost guaranteed employment

and a stable future but as factories were closed down and moved across the globe this changed the job market in the UK a growth of service sector jobs that were stereotypically seen as being more feminine alongside the rise of feminism and increased opportunities for female employment employment meant that males faced more competition for work this led

to a lack of motivation and an erosion of their self-esteem that was formerly associated with being a bread winner and they decid and they looked for status elsewhere from other activities the crisis of masculinity has many synoptic links in sociology offering explanations for increased crime changing attitudes to family life and the impacts of media

so is an area of great interest for social scientists but how does it impact an education well theorists have suggested that the crisis of masculinity has led many males to resort to adopting hegemonic masculine traits toughness physical prowess and the rejection of the feminine help males to obtain status through being seen as alpha