Inequality: an exploration of issues of gender, ‘race’ and social class in education

Jessie Bustillos and Sandra Abegglen undertake an inquiry into inequalities in education. They attempt to disentangle some of the many issues in the realm of gender, ‘race’ and social class in education. The chapter explores some of the growing patterns of inequality that have characterised schooling in the UK. This is broken down into three main sections, First, a section where gender equity issues in schools are outlined and interrogated. The authors look at feminist concerns and ask whether we are now in a post-feminist educational era. Second, issues of ‘race’ and education are discussed in relation to the work of well-known ’critical race theorists’, Gillborn and Youdell. Finally, the work of recently retired, internationally renowned Prof. Stephen Ball will be drawn upon to illustrate a range of issues around social class and educational opportunity.