THE IMPACT OF GENDER DIFFERENCES ON THE FORMATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE’S ASPIRATIONS/EXPECTATIONS AND CHOICES FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL FUTURE: A REVIEW OF SOCIOLOGICAL SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE

The purpose of this study is to investigate and present the formation of the aspirations/expectations and choices of young people in relation to their educational and occupational future, as these are influenced by the ‘gender’ factor, through a review of recent sociological scientific literature. From a study of the research findings of relevant scientific papers, it emerges that there is a gender dichotomy in the choice of school subjects, disciplines and occupations, with girls making choices that are specific to positions largely held by women and boys preferring those that are ‘male-dominated’. It seems that young people are mainly oriented towards traditional stereotypical educational and occupational choices. Thus, young boys and girls activate ‘dispositions’ that are related to their educational future and their professional destination, which are suited to either ‘male’ or ‘female’ nature as timeless stereotypical patterns. In addition, social class of origin tends to dictate gender beliefs among young people, which directs them to more or less gender stereotypical choices and paths.  Article visualizations

THE WEB OF POWER RELATIONS AND THE SCHOOL REGULATIVE DISCOURSE DURING PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS’ TEACHING PRACTICES

The purpose of this paper, which utilises Foucault’s theoretical framework, is to study the effect the existent web of power relations and the school regulative discourse have on the formation of the students as teacher-subjects, during their teaching practice organised by a Department of Primary Education in Greece. The data were collected using two research tools: the interview and observation. The research findings showed that power relations are formed between the mentors and the students. Moreover, the mentors’ action unfolds on three levels. They simultaneously act as supervisors and evaluators, as lead-teachers in the classroom and as role-models for the students. It is through their action that the students become familiarized the school regulative discourse. The majority of the students conform to the norms of the school regulative discourse and obey the controls exercised by the mentors, during their practicum. Article visualizations

WOMEN FACULTY MEMBERS’ PRESENTATION AND ACTIVATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC FIELD: A REVIEW OF SOCIOLOGICAL SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE

The aim of this paper is to investigate and present the position of women faculty members in the international academic field, as well as the challenges they face in their professional careers, within the framework of a review of contemporary sociological scientific literature. In addition, the representation of women academics in administrative positions and positions of power in the academic field is investigated along with the potential existence of sex discrimination. The findings from related scientific studies are in agreement on the following: (a) women faculty members in the international field continue to be found lower down the academic hierarchy compared to their male counterparts. This is due to the fact that they face various challenges, the most significant of which is the lack of balance between their professional and social roles. These challenges hinder their progression and permanence in the academic field. (b) Women academics globally are under-represented and are in a minority in administrative positions within the university field. The factors that deter women faculty members from taking up or going after administrative positions are mainly linked to gender stereotypes and attitudes that predominate in the academic field regarding leadership style. And (c) gender inequality and sex discrimination continue to exist in the international university field. However, their extent is linked to the national–cultural factors of the various nations.  Article visualizations

Investigation of the Rights of Children in Primary Education through the Pedagogical Practices of the Teachers

In this paper, which makes use of Basil Bernstein’s theoretical framework, the investigation of the rights of children as they are implemented through the pedagogical practices of primary school teachers in Greece is, first of all, sought. Then, secondly, the degree of differentiation in the practices, with regard to these particular rights, which are determined by the Convention on the Rights of the  Child which was adopted in 1989 by the United Nations, is also sought. For the realization of the research, in which primary school teachers participated, semi-structured interviews were used as our research tool. The main findings were the following: that for the promotion of the rights of the children which relate to leisure time and play, non-discriminatory treatment, the right to the free expression of opinion and participation as well as for priority to be given to the children’s best interests, visible pedagogical practices in the space of the classroom were implemented, with explicit instructional and regulative rules, by the teachers in the sample. A few teachers expressed a desire for a weakening of the framing aimed at an increase in the pupils’ participation in the educational process in specific low status subjects

INVESTIGATING THE TEACHERS’ PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES IN MULTI-GRADE PRIMARY SCHOOLS: A SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH

This research paper makes use of Basil Bernstein’s theoretical framework to investigate the pedagogical practices of teachers who work in multi-grade Greek primary schools, and the factors that influence the shaping of these particular pedagogical practices of theirs. The research was carried out using the research tool of the semi-structured interview with the participation of 16 teachers. The main findings of this study revealed that teachers in multi-grade primary schools implement mixed pedagogical practices which combine elements from both a visible and an invisible pedagogy. In particular, visible pedagogical practices were implemented during the teaching of subjects that are considered to be the primary subjects, such as Language and Mathematics. What’s more, it was discovered that there was a weakening of the evaluation criteria during the teaching of subjects considered to be secondary, such as History. Finally, the operational teaching conditions in the primary schools as well as administrative factors appeared to influence the shaping of the pedagogical practices that the teachers implemented.  Article visualizations

Family cultural activities and educational expectations of Day High School students

This paper, which uses the concepts of ‘cultural capital’ and ‘practice’ from Pierre Bourdieu’s theory, presents the family cultural activities that Day High School students in Greece adopt in their everyday life and which contribute to shaping their cultural capital. Moreover, an attempt is also made to investigate the role played by the family cultural activities that students adopt, in shaping their expectations concerning their educational future. The research sample consists of 1430 2nd grade Day High School students, who attended High School during the school year 2017-2018, and the research data were collected using a questionnaire. The research results showed that the students in the sample tend to accumulate and integrate into the system of their predispositions a smaller or larger volume of cultural capital, which is a function of the range of family cultural activities they adopt in their everyday lives. In addition, the students’ everyday family cultural activities tend to ‘organize’ the system of their expectations, defining their future educational careers, and orienting them to different educational outlet

OCCUPATIONAL EXPECTATIONS OF DAY GENERAL LYCEUM STUDENTS IN GREECE AT A TIME OF ECONOMIC CRISIS

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences in the occupational expectations of Day General Lyceum students in Greece according to their social origin. Furthermore, their criteria for choosing a profession and the factors which influence their occupational expectations are explored. The research sample consists of Day General Lyceum students in Greece who attended the 2nd grade of Lyceum during the school year 2017-2018, and the research data were collected with the use of the semi-structured interview. The results of this study showed that students tend to have high occupational expectations, regardless of the volume of their ‘institutionalized’ cultural capital and the socio-economic status of their family of origin. Moreover, the economic crisis that Greece is facing today, and which influences the family and the students’ social life, has also had a significant impact on the formation of their occupational expectations, regardless of their socio-economic origin.  Article visualizations