Girls get better results than boys in SATs tests and most GCSE subjects. They are also more likely to
decision ethnicity feminisation independence industry laddish masculinity pass qualifications subculture working their A levels and go on to University.
A number of sociological explanations have been put forward to try and explain the phenomenon of underachieving boys.
1.The rise of female
decision ethnicity feminisation independence industry laddish masculinity pass qualifications subculture working has led some observations to claim that boys are suffering from a crisis of identity which has had a detrimental effect on their achievement in schools, for instance Mac an Ghaill identifies a "crisis of
decision ethnicity feminisation independence industry laddish masculinity pass qualifications subculture working "
2. Boys have been seen to react against female emanicipation by adopting a "
decision ethnicity feminisation independence industry laddish masculinity pass qualifications subculture working " culture which does not value education or educational achievement.
3. Economic changes have seen a reduction in traditionally "male" jobs in heavy
decision ethnicity feminisation independence industry laddish masculinity pass qualifications subculture working and a rise in jobs in the service sector more "suited" to girls, which has added to the "crisis of masculinity"
4. Mitsos and Browne identified the "
decision ethnicity feminisation independence industry laddish masculinity pass qualifications subculture working " of the teaching profession (especially in primary schools), which leaves boys with no positive role models in schools and perhaps contributes to a boy's
decision ethnicity feminisation independence industry laddish masculinity pass qualifications subculture working which see learning as "sissy"
5. Paul Willis suggests that working class boys drop out of trying at school because they see very little real value in working so hard for so little. This he claims is a calculated
decision ethnicity feminisation independence industry laddish masculinity pass qualifications subculture working which reflects the class position of working class boys and the very limited opportunities working class boys even with
decision ethnicity feminisation independence industry laddish masculinity pass qualifications subculture working actually have. Boys therefore construct anti-school subcultures which are closely linked the the subcultures of the factories they will inevitably work in.
It is important to remember however to think beyond gender in understanding the full picture, class and
decision ethnicity feminisation independence industry laddish masculinity pass qualifications subculture working are also factors. For instance middle class boys do better in education than
decision ethnicity feminisation independence industry laddish masculinity pass qualifications subculture working class girls, Afro Caribbean boys do worst of all. The situation is not a straightforward one!
Extension Work