Boys underachievement

Question 1

4 reasons why boys underachieve

Answer 1

Boys literacy
Feminisation of education
shortage of male primary skl teachers
globalisation + decline of traditional men’s jobs

Question 2

How does boys literacy impact their achievement?

How Having less of a ‘bedroom culture impact their achievement?

Answer 2

 Parents spent less time reading with boys
 Boys have less of a ‘bedroom culture’ and instead engage in activities such as football
 These prevent boys from improving their language and literacy skills and so cannot meet the demands of the education system, require for educational success

Question 3

How does decline of traditional men’s job lead to ‘identity crisis for men’ —impact boys achievement?

Answer 3

 the decline in many ‘male’ jobs has led to an ‘identity crisis for men’ who now believe they have little prospects and so give up trying (MITSOS AND BROWNE)

changes in the job market (1 mark): decline in traditional
men’s jobs reduce boys’ motivation to achieve (1)

Question 4

How does shortage of male primary skl teachers impact boys achievement

Answer 4

Feminisation of teaching means boys have no role models in the classroom.
 DfES (2007) – men only make up 16% of primary school teachers

Question 5

How does ‘laddish’ subcultures have an impact on boys achievement

FRANCIS - fear of being labelled ‘swots’
EPSTEIN - ‘swots’

Answer 5

 EPSTEIN: boys were ridiculed for being ‘swots’ if they were focussed on school
 FRANCIS: linked the idea of boys fearing being labelled as swots because it was a threat to their masculinity (importance of masculinity in w/c culture = being tough and doing manual work)

laddish subcultures (1 mark); boys are more likely to join anti-school
subcultures that prevent them from achieving