Boy's underachievment

• What has recently focused attention on boys' underachievement?

  Reasons for boys' under-achievement
• What factors have been identified as responsible for boys' underachievement?

  Opposite factors to girls' performance improvements
• What is one reason boys lag behind academically?

  Poorer literacy skills
• Why do parents spend less time reading to sons?

  Reading is seen as a feminine activity
• How do boys' leisure interests affect their literacy skills?

  They do not encourage language skills
• What is the impact of boys' poorer literacy skills on their academic achievement?

  It has a wide-ranging effect on achievement
• What is the effect of traditional male jobs on boys' motivation for qualifications?

  They are unlikely to affect motivation
• How effective is a "masculine" style of discipline used by male teachers?

  It is as effective as female teachers' style
• What are 'laddish' subcultures in relation to boys' education?

  They operate both inside and outside school
• What does Connolly suggest about the effect of gender on boys' education?

  Some explanations are more effective than others
• What has globalisation led to since the 1980s?

  Decline of traditional male jobs
• How has the decline in male employment opportunities affected boys?

  It has led to a male "identity crisis"
• What does Sewell argue about the feminisation of education?

  It has led to boys falling behind
• What traits are no longer nurtured in schools according to Sewell?

  Masculine traits like competitiveness
• How is assessment claimed to be feminised?

  By the introduction of coursework
• What is the ratio of male primary school teachers?

  1 in 6 primary school teachers are men
• What effect does the lack of male primary school teachers have on boys?

  It may make education seem feminine
• What does Read (2008) criticize about the claim regarding male teachers?

  Only male teachers can provide firm discipline
• What did Read find about female teachers' disciplinary style?

  They also use disciplinarian discourse
• What is the impact of female-headed lone parent families on boys?

  They may lack a positive male role model
• How does the lack of male role models affect boys' view on qualifications?

  They may not see the value of qualifications
• What peer pressure do boys face regarding schoolwork?

  To demonstrate masculinity by being anti-school
• What did Francis (2001) find about boys' concerns in school?

  Boys fear being labelled as swots
• How does working-class culture view non-manual work?

  As effeminate and inferior
• What happens to pro-school working-class boys according to Epstein (1998)?

  They are harassed and labelled as 'gay'
• How do boys respond as girls enter traditional masculine areas?

  They become more 'laddish'
• What policies have been introduced to raise boys' achievement?

  • Raising Boys Achievement project
  • Reading Champions scheme
  • Playing for Success
• What has the moral panic about 'failing boys' led to according to Ringrose (2013)?


  Neglect of problems faced by girls
• What are the main factors contributing to boys' underachievement?

  • Poor literacy skills
  • Lack of male role models
  • 'Laddish' subcultures
  • Feminisation of education
  • Globalisation and job decline