Education = Gender Boys underachievement

Question 1

What two reasons are proposed for boys lack of literacy skills?

Answer 1

1. Parents spend less time reading to boys (seen as a feminine activity)
2. Boys leisure interests don’t encourage language e.g. sports and computer games.

Question 2

Why is boys having poor literacy skills so influential on their education?

Answer 2

Literacy skills are used in most subjects, so having poor skills means poorer grades.

Question 3

What do people think the main cause of boys lack of prospect for their future in globalisation?

Answer 3

Since 1980’s decline in manufacturing in the UK and therefore decline in male employment, meaning less jobs for them to prospect for.

Question 4

What did Sewell (2006) argue about the feminisation of schooling?

Answer 4

Boys fall behind as education has become ‘feminised’. Schools no longer nurture ‘masculine’ traits e.g. competitiveness and leadership.

Question 5

What has been brought into the curriculum to appeal more to girls?

Answer 5

Coursework as it appeals more to girls than boys, disadvantaging them.

Question 6

How many school teachers that are men work in primary schools?

Answer 6

1 in 6 teachers are male in primary school.

Question 7

What percentage of boys have no lessons with a male teacher?

Answer 7

60%