Possible reasons for boys underachievement at school.

Men tend to do better in manual labour work, since there has been a decline in traditional men’s jobs in heavy industries such as iron and steel, shipbuilding, mining, engineering and other manufacturing. These sectors of the economy employed are mainly men. Many boys now believe that they have little prospect of getting a proper job. This undermines their motivation and self esteem and so they give up trying to get qualifications.

Another theory which sociologists argue that has contributed for the underachievement in education for boys is laddish subcultures. Debbie Epstein found that working class boys are likely to be harassed, labelled as sissies and subjected to homophobic verbal abuse if they appear to be ‘swots’. This is because in working class culture masculinity is equated with being tough and doing manual work. Non manual work and by extension schoolwork, is seen as effeminate and inferior. As a result working class boys tend to reject schoolwork to avoid being called gay.

Another claim is that boys fall behind because education has become ‘feminised’. That is schools do not nurture ‘masculine’ traits such as competiveness and leadership. Instead they celebrate qualities more closely associated with girls, such as methodical working and attentiveness in class. It is also argued that coursework causes a major gender difference in achievement. It should be replaced with final exams and a greater emphasis placed on outdoor adventure in the curriculum.

Another reason for the under achievement for boys, is the fact they have behavioural problems compared to girls. They become under the influence more quickly, and tend to follow the crowd. For a boy to sit quietly and get on with work in lessons would be seen as quite girly, so to fit in with the crowd and to be noticed they would tend to speak out, misbehave because they come to school to be noticed.