Girls Keener for University

Parents Forum
1

<p>
[quote]
Research from the education charity the Sutton Trust found that 76 per cent of girls aged 11 to 16 thought they would be likely to go to university, against 67 per cent of boys. The gap has doubled in the past year, raising concerns that many boys are being left behind by an education system that plays to the strengths of girls and undervalues the achievements of boys. </p>

<p>Girls continue to outperform boys at school, although the gap is beginning to show some signs of narrowing.

[/quote]
<a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article2337378.ece%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article2337378.ece&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The narrowing of the gap in the UK is due to the recent reinstatement of cumulative end-of-the-year exam options for boys--and other measures aimed at combatting the dropping interest.</p>

<p>Many boys do not appear to have the same long range plans as their female peers. Is this due to inability? Lack of parent expectation? Or natural advantage? Perhaps girls have to plan for advancements--or they will lose out in the business and professional worlds.</p>

2

<p>random chance of those surveyed? Divine intervention? Could it be that at that age boys just hadn't thought about it much? Might have been interesting to see if the same group intended to marry, at what age, how many children, and "how old is old?" My meaning here is that I don't think much can be derived from asking such youngsters what they intend to do in 6, 7, 8 years, and expect it to really happen.</p>

3

<p>Guys have more interest in non-college fields.</p>

<p>Stereotypically male fields that don't require college:
Mechanic
Construction
Other manual labor
etc.</p>

<p>Stereotypically female fields that don't require college:
Hairdresser?</p>

<p>My guess is that jobs that are valued more among men don't involve college as often, causing a gap.</p>

<p>Plus girls are supposed to mature faster, so longer range thinking may be employed by more women than men.</p>

4

<p>In my D's class there are numerically more boys than girls, but many more girls are on the honors track and in the NHS, etc. As well, there have been 8 female Vals/Sals and only 2 males in the last 5 years at D's HS. The girls seem to be far more driven here and less prone to the dreaded "Senioritis." I do think it's partly a function of maturity. I also think that there is a new culture of girls that embraces a willingness to compete with boys; it seems that it is now very cool to be smart.</p>

5

<p>DSC is on point--education is more valuable for females--they need it more than men do in order to get decent jobs.</p>

6

<p>As other posters have noted, young men know that they can sell their physical strength to get good starting jobs -- an option few women have.</p>

<p>But unfortunately, their opportunities for advancement may prove to be limited. At some point in their careers, the lack of a college education may prevent them from moving upward into more responsible positions.</p>

7

<p>Marian:</p>

<p>
[quote]
the lack of a college education may prevent them from moving upward into more responsible positions.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That's assuming that they want to, and that you think the only education worthwhile occurs in a college setting. </p>

<p>In any case, many of jobs men go into, for example the trades and the military, provide extensive apprenticeships, ojt, and classroom training.</p>