Educational gender gap and school closures

[Kokeshi123]

I haven't seen any real discussion of this, but am wondering whether the gender gap between boys and girls will grow as a result of school closures.

Every child is different of course, but talking to friends, it seems that parents of boys have in general had more of a struggle to get them to apply themselves during this period, and that boys are less likely to spontaneously pick up books and read, or write letters/stories/diaries. Boys also seem to be more likely to have spent a lot of time gaming during the school closures.

Gender gaps tend to be bigger in education systems where kids spend fewer hours in school.

Interesting. It’s going to be tricky to generalise as there’s a few factors involved. I’m wondering if boys will do worse academically because they tend to be crammers for exams rather than ongoing learners. But maybe girls will suffer more due to the social isolation and inability to be with their usual tribe. Boys gaming & connecting.
I’ve read teacher anecdotes about kids (usually boys) who play up in the classroom are now cracking on with study as they have no audience. And the quieter ones who’d be easily distracted are producing much better work without such distractions. Either way they’re having tough times & I don’t think there’s going to be many winners tbh.

That's an interesting perspective, NotDonna, esp regarding some boys working better when they have no audience!

Hate to be that person but given everything going on right now I feel it important to point out that it's an educational sex gap that is at risk of increasing, not gender, which presents a whole lot of different challenges in itself.

Sex not gender, yes. I wish the word "sex" didn't have another meaning....!

Absolutely biological sex differences and definitely not gender! We all need to be that person who highlights the need to say ‘sex’ rather than ‘gender’, way too much mixed terms going on.

But surely it's at least AS likely to be gender roles that cause the attainment gap?

@deplorabelle

(Great name btw)

It may be gender stereotyping that causes the gap (girls are more independent/mature, girls prefer creative subjects, boys need more structure, they do better at stem subjects ect) but it will be the sex gap that is increased.