Concerns have been raised recently about the fact that, in some schools, very few girls choose to take Physics A Level. It seems reasonable to deduce that something in the culture of such schools may be discouraging girls from picking the subject, given that at girls’ schools a much higher proportion take Physics. The fact that they seem to be rather more likely to achieve A grades in the subject compared to boys (see table relating to A level subject choice by gender), also implies that girls have to be that bit keener, or more able, to choose Physics. So – I have no problem if female physicists, or anyone else, want to campaign to interest more girls in their subject.
But I am not sure that the news is so very alarming. The BBC news item notes that those who study physics can access exciting careers, and command higher salaries. But subjects which girls favour at A level – Law, English, Classics – are also well regarded, and open up plenty of good career options, and more women than men study medicine too.
Perhaps there is an odd kind of potential sexism in this anxiety about women not choosing ‘male’ subjects – when compared with the comparative lack of concern about boys’ tendency to avoid ‘feminine’ subjects – English is not favoured by boys, and neither are Drama and Art. Here too, it seems likely that cultural pressures are partly to blame, for this article from 2003 presents us with the mirror image of the Physics scenario – boys at mixed schools shun English whereas at single sex schools, freed from anxiety about female competition or being perceived to be doing a feminine subject, they are more likely to pursue it at A level.
As an English graduate (with an E in Physics O Level – I blame the patriarchy) I think it’s just as concerning that boys are being deterred from doing ‘feminine’ subjects which they might enjoy as it is that girls are being put off the sciences.
