Boys' Underachievement
Literacy
DCSF (2007)- The gender gap is mainly the result of boys' poorer literacy and language skills.
Mother's do more reading, making boys see it as feminine.
Mothers tend to read less to boys.
Leisure activities, i.e. football don't help communication.
Globalisation
Since the 1980s there has been a significant decline in the number of heavy industries.
Globalisation of the economy has lead to the manufacturing industry relocating to developing countries such as China for cheap labour.
Mitsos and Browne- Decline in male opportunities had led to an ‘identity crisis of men' as boys give up on getting qualifications.
Feminisation of education
Sewell- Boys fall behind because education has become ‘feminised’, i.e. schools do not nurture ‘masculine’ traits such as competitiveness and leadership.
Thinks some coursework should be replaced with final exams.
“We have challenged the 1950s patriarchy and rightly said this is not a man’s world. But we have thrown the boy out with the bath water.”
Shortage of male primary school teachers
Lack of male role models.
Only 14% of primary school teachers are male.
Yougov (2007)- 39% of 8-11 year old boys have no lessons whatsoever with a male teacher. Yet most boys surveyed said male teachers made them behave better and 42% said it made them work harder.
Laddish subcultures
Epstein (1998)- Working-class boys are likely to be harassed, labelled as sissies and subjected to homophobic verbal abuse if they appear to be 'swoots'.
Francis (2001)- Boys were more concerned than girls about being labelled as their masculinity was threatened.
Moral panic about boys
Ringrose (2013)- Fear that underachieving working-class boys will grow up to become a dangerous, unemployable underclass that threatens social stability.