Britain’s lost boys Sonia Sodha

https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/current/thought-leadership/2023/11/girls-less-likely-to-be-diagnosed-with-special-educational-needs--new-research/

Of the roughly 1.5 million children in English schools identified for SEN services in 2022-23, only 0.5 million were girls. We found the same pattern across the country, with girls making up between 34% to 36% of all students accessing SEN support in most regions.
In some cases, this may be because certain disabilities are more common in boys. But it is likely to be also down to gender bias in assessment and from those referring children for assessment, as well as girls being better at hiding the challenges they face from some conditions.
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Gender bias
But social factors can also play a big part. Past research has suggested that gender bias among people who refer students for diagnostic assessment, like teachers, contributes to this unequal distribution. One study of twins reports that teachers may be more likely to refer boys because boys are more disruptive and command more attention, while girls go under the radar.
Research on autism also points out the “camouflage effect”. This means girls may be better at masking or hiding their autism-related challenges, leading to under-identification or delayed diagnosis.
Some researchers have also reported that assessments used for diagnosis are typically based on male characteristics, and potentially overlook how autism spectrum disorder presents differently in girls.
This imbalance is likely to mean that some girls are not getting the recognition and support they need.

This is why we need actual reasearch into problems.

@Shortshriftandlethal Ha, ha - if anyone does not fall over themselves to praise men they must have an entirely negative view. Someone needs to counter the rubbish being spouted here about how boys are different. They are different because we rear them and socialise them differently from infancy onwards

The most physically courageous children I've known were actually girls - jumping in the deep end before they'd learnt to swim being the outstanding example. But I've met plenty of parents excusing their son's unpleasant behaviour with boys will be boys. Boys can learn to be good parents too - but they need to be taught that just as much as girls do.

edit for typo

FIL does washing and cooking as did my Dad - and actually one of my DGF - and in that generation several men have ended up doing elder care even when there were just as close females.

there is zero need to #NotAllMen

You seem to have an entirely negative view of boys? We're not talking about being "aggressive" and "smashing things up". Boys can still have interest in and sensitivity towards, for example, small creatures and small children, but still need to express themselves in physically courageous or uninhibited ways.

Lots of men and boys have particular interest in sports, in motor racing, rugby, boxing so on. That doesn't mean they cannot be a loving parent or compassionate brother as well.

Women do most of the childrearing because it is women who become pregnant, give birth and feed babies. Equality measures will only go some of the way in trying to flatten out essential differences.

but also echo about men liking women to be there because they bring cake, make tea and tidy up. My mum upended her art club for retirees when it became clear that the men would do nothing at all of the sort. They made a rota, and did it in 4s, and everything was fine until the group my mum was in (2 women, 2 men) lost the other woman and the men just wouldn't even step up and buy a packet of mini-rolls, let alone do the washing up.

FIL does washing and cooking as did my Dad - and actually one of my DGF - and in that generation several men have ended up doing elder care even when there were just as close females.

I have encountered that attitude though with kids - the expectation that I should look after their kids as I'm out with my own. While I wouldn't see a child injured beyond that it's not something I've entertained- and have been surpised over the years how many other women have.

I'm an ancient crone and i remember that in the 80s there were often pubs that women wouldn't be welcome in (frankly mostly we didn't want to go in them) that were effectively single sex. Except the bar staff, who were then fair game for groping and worse.

Someone mentioned the pratcise of putting quite girls next to disruptive boys - and that's been an issue for my girls and niece - particularly nasty as they has underlying conditions making classrooms harder anyway.

However they did try this with DS at some points - never lasted more than a day as instead of a quiter corner - they ended up with more noise and choas.

that's bloody disappointing.
I love the idea that there are single sex places for all of us to go to if we want/need that.

but also echo about men liking women to be there because they bring cake, make tea and tidy up. My mum upended her art club for retirees when it became clear that the men would do nothing at all of the sort. They made a rota, and did it in 4s, and everything was fine until the group my mum was in (2 women, 2 men) lost the other woman and the men just wouldn't even step up and buy a packet of mini-rolls, let alone do the washing up.

There are clearly biological differences between the sexes when taken as averages; I've always taught children with moderate learning difficulties and it's always been predominantly boys. You get the same answer when you speak to SALT and OTs

In my family it's the girls as well with SEN/ND - though the excuses are different why they can't be helped - tends not to be their sex - but they don't get diagnosed or helped any quicker - and in fact as some conditions are considered male or most people look for male presenatation which isn't helpful.

I get that on average boys may struggle more or more obvioulsy but when that used to avoid giving indivdual boys targeted needed help - I do wonder why that's justified.

But this whole issue is about class. White working class boys - they don't have the parents who'll search out books they'd enjoy, they're not on-line playing

This is what I think as well.

Middle class - immigrant familes keen on education - are protective mechanisms in many way when messages come in from schools/wider societey - they have more social econimic resources to draw on to counter and desire to do so.

When school did trip to creationist zoo - I didn't at first didn't realise - when I did thank to MN I approached the school got reassuarnces they would go to talked mentioning intelligent design. Well they did - so I spent next 18 months watching documentaries, buying and reading age apprppiated children books explaining evolution it - having talk about Darwin at dinner table. Same when they were taught miss information about castles and roman food.

We've done same with reading and maths messaging - counted in a variety of ways - family examples that dispute this - more famous ones many resources.

I do wonder though in this day and age why I am having to do this with such fundamental skills.

we all know that it is womens' job to organise everything. From GP appointments for the men in our lives to activities on International Men's Day to everything else ever.

Except war, they manage that all on their own.

A feminist board that is still perpetuating gender stereotypes. Yes boys tend to be more aggressive and smash things up - because their parents say "boys will be boys" and excuse it as "rough play". Bullying and aggressive behaviour is permitted, even encouraged in boys but not girls.

Women still do most of the child rearing and as long as we perpetuate gender sterotypes types they will persist. Prior to puberty, there is no sex difference in circulating testosterone concentrations. Excusing the bullying behaviour of boy children is just that - an excuse.

All children need fresh air and exercise. All children also need to be taught acceptable behaviour.

I strongly disagree. Yes there's lots of issues in our generation but previous generations it was far more sexist and misogynistic. Of course Tate is fueling terrible things but I remember the 70s and wasn't a pretty time to be a woman or girl.

Have to say I'm having difficulty imagining these boys/young men you talk about. Doesn't seem to ring true for me. Even the quietest boys or those on the spectrum do tend to seek out other male company in my experience.

My two sons were/are quite different to each other...one a lot more confident and socially popular than the other. The more confident, outgoing one certainly had/has female friends, but his closest friends still tend to be male.

The quieter, more socially awkward son did/does get on with girls, but his best/most regular friends would always be boys. He would/does gravitate to other boys like him,who were/are perhaps outsiders for some reason or other

My daughter teaches at a school in which chess has been promoted as a way for boys ( most of the attendees are boys) who perhaps are not so much into sport to find an activity at which they can win and excel, and be around other like minded boys. You could also have science clubs or clubs dedicated to coding or developing games. Such activities may well appeal to those on the spectrum or who are not so physically confident.

That is fairly typical......even when I was at school in the 1970s ( although we had a girs football team too, even then) the boys would tend to run around and push and shove, the girls would do handstands against the wall, play with skipping ropes, or else do those clapping hand games with each other ( can't think of more appropriate word).

I then went to a single sex secondary and really enjoyed that.......girls did not have to compromise on anything due to the presence of boys. And sport was really strong.

Yes, there will always be some children who don't naturally conform with the mainstream...but that doesn't negate the fact that there is a mainstream and there are some general characteristics that are typical of males and of females.

Sorry if garbled - rushing!

England and Wales have even younger school age than up here in Scotland. A potentially useful area to compare outcomes.

Summer born is interesting - ASD rates show higher in winter born males born via c section, is my understanding? And the hypotheses was due to gut flora issues.

That's the 'shoulds' though.....'Should' is about imposing certain ideals, which don't necessarily always play out well in reality.