Reasons for boys underachievement

Question 1

Explain why boys underachieve as a result of the feminisation of education

Answer 1

• female traits such as attentiveness are celebrated more than masculine traits such as leadership are
• boys lack role models in the classroom (most teachers are female, especially in primary schools)

Question 2

Explain why boys underachieve as a result of teacher’s lower expectations of boys

Answer 2

• Interpretivists say that teachers have lower expectations of boys + negative labelling which may lead to the self fulfilling prophecy

Question 3

Explain why boys underachieve as a result of an identity crisis

Answer 3

• growing female independence + feminism causes a decline in the homemaker role and therefore also a decline in the breadwinner role
• boys may have an identity crises which causes them to fail to see the point in education = lack of effort
• they may also join an anti-school subculture (perhaps as a way of gaining identity again)

Question 4

Explain why boys underachieve as a result of ‘laddish subcultures’

Answer 4

• w/c boys are likely to be harassed and bullied if they appear to be ‘nerds’
• boys masculinity is attacked and homophobic slurs are used to insult them
• boys that work hard are labelled ‘dick head achievers’
• boys may respond by becoming a part of anti-school subcultures such as Willis’s lads (formed anti-school ‘education isn’t important’ subcultures as a means of coping with their underachievement)