Gender and Education in England since 1770

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

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2. A Chronological Introduction

   • Jane Martin

   Pages 1-22

3. Politics and Policies

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 23-23

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   2. Gendering the Educational Landscape

      • Jane Martin

      Pages 25-50

   3. Childhood, Education and the Family

      • Jane Martin

      Pages 51-77

   4. Gender Equity and the ‘Ladder of Opportunity’

      • Jane Martin

      Pages 79-106

   5. Perspectives and Debates Since the 1970s

      • Jane Martin

      Pages 107-132

4. Learners and Learning

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 133-133

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   2. Culture and Curriculum

      • Jane Martin

      Pages 135-162

   3. Pupils

      • Jane Martin

      Pages 163-188

   4. Students

      • Jane Martin

      Pages 189-214

5. Teachers and Teaching

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 215-215

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   2. Women in Teaching

      • Jane Martin

      Pages 217-244

   3. Gender Struggles

      • Jane Martin

      Pages 245-271

   4. Conclusion: Constancy and Change in the Twenty-First Century

      • Jane Martin

      Pages 273-285

6. Back Matter

   Pages 287-304

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This book takes a novel approach to the topic, combining biographical approaches and local history, a synthesis of sociological and historical literature, with new research to address a variety of themes and provide a comprehensive, rounded history demonstrating the entanglement of educational experience and the influence of different modes of discrimination and prejudice. Using the lens of gender, Jane Martin reassesses the gendered nature of the modern history of education and provides an overview of intertwined aspects of education, society, politics and power. Its organisation is user friendly, providing accessible information with regard to chronologies of legislation and key events to reflect constancy and change, whilst ‘mapping’ the larger political, economic, social and cultural contexts, making it ideal for use as a textbook or a resource for teachers and students.

• women's history
• history of education
• gender theory
• schooling
• teaching

“With Gender and Education in England since 1770. A Social and Cultural History, Jane Martin has provided the field of history of educa­tion with a valuable and inspiring contribution which places the histories of women, girls, and the working-class centre stage. A valuable aspect of this book is Martin’s thorough theoreti­cal contextualisation and discussion which can serve as a great resource for further research.” (Jane Martin, Nordic Journal of Educational History, Vol. 10 (1), 2023)

“Gender and Education in England since 1770 is a significant and impressive contribution to the field. This work can be read in several ways. It can be read as an historical narrative, as a definitive text for those seeking to better understand biographical tools, or as an illustrative example of the interconnections between past and present through the retelling of individual lives.” (Tanya Fitzgerald, British Journal of Educational Studies, June 18, 2023)

“Each chapter has a comprehensive bibliography, thereby enhancing the book’s utility as a textbook for postgraduate students who are interested in a specific sector or period of education. More than a textbook, the book is a comprehensive resource for anyone who is interested in a gendered history of English education. … this book is a thoroughly researched, beautifully crafted account the experiences of teachers and learners, along with the gendered policies and practices impacting on their education.” (Kay Whitehead, History of Education, November 2, 2022)



“Jane Martin’s ambitious aim … is expertly achieved in her new book Gender and Education in England since 1770: A Social and Cultural History. … Meticulously researched and elegantly penned, Gender and Education in England since 1770: A Social and Cultural History will appeal to students, lecturers, scholars and all those interested in the wider field of gender and education. It deserves a wide readership.” (Judith Harford, FORUM for comprehensive education, Vol. 64 (2), 2022)

“Gender and Education in England Since 1770 is an incredible contribution to histories of education, Britain, women and gender, children (particularly girls), the working class, and women’s rights. It also offers significant insights into ‘current policy and practice’ regarding British education … . Most importantly, by engaging with personal accounts and government policies around gender and class, Martin elucidates, the historical roots of elitism, inequality, and privilege that continue to overshadow education systems in Britain and around the globe today.” (Catherine Ramey, Historical Studies in Education, Vol. 34 (2), 2022)

• University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

  Jane Martin

Jane Martin is Professor of Social History of Education and Director of the Domus Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Histories of Education and Childhood at the University of Birmingham, UK. She is Executive Editor of Educational Review.

Policies and ethics