According to new research, only 57% of young men complete Grade 12 compared with 64% of young women. By upper primary, girls are estimated to be a full year ahead of boys in reading, and the gap in mathematics has jumped significantly as well.
In this piece, the authors argue this isn’t just an academic issue; it’s a cultural one. From a young age, many boys are socialised to suppress vulnerability, avoid asking for help, and adopt “cultural scripts” where being the class clown or shrugging off homework is seen as cooler than striving for academic success.
Have you noticed a difference in how boys and girls engage with learning? What do you think is the main reason boys are falling behind in our schools?
- Cultural pressures
- Narrow definitions of “masculinity”
- Economic pressures
- Boys not being accomodated
- Lack of positive male role models
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