Perceived gender-based challenges endured by Zimbabwean secondary school girls in their academic and occupational prospects

This study explores and unmasks factors in the Zimbabwean school curricula that predispose or channel girls into particular occupational trajectories, in particular occupations or careers traditionally stereotyped as feminine. As a qualitative research study of the culture of the schooling system w...

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Main Authors: Edmore Mutekwe, Maropeng Modiba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2013-03-01
Series:Perspectives in Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/1791
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author Edmore Mutekwe
Maropeng Modiba
author_facet Edmore Mutekwe
Maropeng Modiba
author_sort Edmore Mutekwe
collection DOAJ
description This study explores and unmasks factors in the Zimbabwean school curricula that predispose or channel girls into particular occupational trajectories, in particular occupations or careers traditionally stereotyped as feminine. As a qualitative research study of the culture of the schooling system within this country, it employs the views of a sample size of 20 Sixth Form girls who were purposively selected. The study also examines the impact of the pupils’ gender and their teacher attitudes and expectations towards them as girls on their resultant career trajectories. The design adopted is an exploratory case study that utilises the focus group interview for data collection from four secondary schools conveniently sampled from the Ngezi District of Zimbabwe. The study establishes that as part of the hidden culture and curriculum, teachers’ perceptions, attitudes and expectations of pupils’ gender roles exert a significant influence on their academic achievement and career aspirations. This study concludes that effective intervention strategies are an imperative if the Zimbabwean school curriculum is to be made gendersensitive.
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spelling doaj.art-0348dd8f36694f86a8e0cc6b310d26252024-03-07T11:18:07ZengUniversity of the Free StatePerspectives in Education0258-22362519-593X2013-03-01311Perceived gender-based challenges endured by Zimbabwean secondary school girls in their academic and occupational prospectsEdmore Mutekwe0Maropeng Modiba1University of JohannesburgUniversity of Johannesburg This study explores and unmasks factors in the Zimbabwean school curricula that predispose or channel girls into particular occupational trajectories, in particular occupations or careers traditionally stereotyped as feminine. As a qualitative research study of the culture of the schooling system within this country, it employs the views of a sample size of 20 Sixth Form girls who were purposively selected. The study also examines the impact of the pupils’ gender and their teacher attitudes and expectations towards them as girls on their resultant career trajectories. The design adopted is an exploratory case study that utilises the focus group interview for data collection from four secondary schools conveniently sampled from the Ngezi District of Zimbabwe. The study establishes that as part of the hidden culture and curriculum, teachers’ perceptions, attitudes and expectations of pupils’ gender roles exert a significant influence on their academic achievement and career aspirations. This study concludes that effective intervention strategies are an imperative if the Zimbabwean school curriculum is to be made gendersensitive. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/1791Gender-role stereotypingcareer trajectorieshidden culture curriculumteacher attitudes and expectations
spellingShingle Edmore Mutekwe
Maropeng Modiba
Perceived gender-based challenges endured by Zimbabwean secondary school girls in their academic and occupational prospects
Perspectives in Education
Gender-role stereotyping
career trajectories
hidden culture curriculum
teacher attitudes and expectations
title Perceived gender-based challenges endured by Zimbabwean secondary school girls in their academic and occupational prospects
title_full Perceived gender-based challenges endured by Zimbabwean secondary school girls in their academic and occupational prospects
title_fullStr Perceived gender-based challenges endured by Zimbabwean secondary school girls in their academic and occupational prospects
title_full_unstemmed Perceived gender-based challenges endured by Zimbabwean secondary school girls in their academic and occupational prospects
title_short Perceived gender-based challenges endured by Zimbabwean secondary school girls in their academic and occupational prospects
title_sort perceived gender based challenges endured by zimbabwean secondary school girls in their academic and occupational prospects
topic Gender-role stereotyping
career trajectories
hidden culture curriculum
teacher attitudes and expectations
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/1791
work_keys_str_mv AT edmoremutekwe perceivedgenderbasedchallengesenduredbyzimbabweansecondaryschoolgirlsintheiracademicandoccupationalprospects
AT maropengmodiba perceivedgenderbasedchallengesenduredbyzimbabweansecondaryschoolgirlsintheiracademicandoccupationalprospects