Gender Differences in Achievement - Boys' Underachievement

Question 1

What are the factors for boys’ underachievement?

Answer 1

1) . Poor literacy skills.
2) . Globalisation and decline of traditional ‘men’s jobs’.
3) . Feminisation of schooling.
4) . Lack of male role models at home.
5) . ‘Laddish’ subcultures.

Question 2

Who said the gender gap is mainly the result of boys’ poor literacy skills?

Answer 2

DCSF (2007).

Question 3

Who said the decline in men’s jobs has led to an ‘identity crisis for men’?

Answer 3

Mitsos and Browne =

• boys now believe they have little prospect in getting a job.
• so they give up trying to get qualifications.

Question 4

What did Yougov (2007) find about boys having lessons with male teachers?

Answer 4

Primary school =

• 39% of 8-11 year old’s have no lessons with male teachers.
• 42% said male teachers made them work harder.

Question 5

What did Francis (2006) find about the importance of the gender of the teacher?

Answer 5

2/3 of 7-8 year olds said it does matter.

Question 6

Who found female teachers can also exert firm discipline in boys?

Answer 6

Read (2008) =

• studied the language teachers use.
• females also use ‘disciplinarian discourse’ = being strict.

Question 7

Who found boys adopt ‘laddish’ subcultures to avoid being labelled as ‘gay’?

Answer 7

1) . Francis (2001).

2) . Epstein (1998).

Question 8

What did Francis find?

Answer 8

Boys are concerned about being labelled as swots as it threatens their masculinity =

• so joins ‘laddish’ subcultures to assert masculinity.

Question 9

What did Epstein find?

Answer 9

w/c boys labelled as sissies, and gay =

• join ‘laddish’ subcultures to avoid bullying, and end up failing school.

Question 10

What did Ringrose (2013) find about the moral panic about ‘failing boys’?

Answer 10

It’s neglected the problems faced by girls =

• sexual harassment.
• stereotyped subject choice.