Identify and briefly explain two ways in which gendered subject choice in reinforced within schools (a typical 4 mark question)

Gendered subject image is one of the key factors contributing to the divide between subjects which have come to be associated with typically male or female students within schools. For example, subjects such as physics and mathematics are heavily male-dominated, which can act as a deterrent to girls, putting them off choosing subjects which may subtract from their femininity and make them feel uncomfortable due to an uneven gender divide in the classroom; and vice versa, with few boys choosing stereotypically 'female' subjects such as Literature or Art to preserve their masculinity in front of their peers. 

A presence, or lack-there-of, positive role models within certain subjects can also have a strong influence over subject choice. In particular, this can be seen in the lack of female science teachers at the primary and secondary school levels, which, from a young age, instils a gender divide between 'male' and 'female' professions for young students to aspire to - thus affecting their subject choices in the future. Similarly, there are few male primary and secondary school teachers in creative subjects such as Art and Design, which can make a career in Art and similar subjects appear inaccessible to boys, dissuading them from choosing such subjects when given the chance.