Why do girls always do better than boys at GCSEs?

Scroll to see replies

Girls are more academic generally I'd say, across the board. They have always been traditionally given the tasks which require more brai power as opposed to more physical tasks throughout the ages, so it's just evolved from that, add in peer pressure, distraction from the opposite sex etc etc.

Reply 41

Twinpeaks

Original post by ColossalAtom

Source?

Common knowledge that more males are born than females.

Reply 42

ColossalAtom

Original post by Twinpeaks

Common knowledge that more males are born than females.

I guess I'm too dumb to be here, sorry!

Reply 43

Twinpeaks

Original post by AlexFam

Education favours effeminate teaching methods. Boys learn more hands-on and physically, girls learn more through direct communication. (this is only one factor of many).

Evidence that men learn more with more hands on methods?

Reply 44

Dheorl

Original post by ColossalAtom

I guess I'm too dumb to be here, sorry!

Dw, the difference of actual living humans is much smaller than that. 50/50 for living humans is more correct.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 45

Twinpeaks

Original post by Dheorl

Dw, the difference of actual living humans is much smaller than that. 50/50 for living humans is more correct.

What do you mean by "living humans"?

I don't really get you. Yeah the difference is small, but it does exist. The sex ratio is commonly referred as 105:100.

http://www.livescience.com/33491-male-female-sex-ratio.html

Reply 46

username2246259

Original post by Twinpeaks

Evidence that men learn more with more hands on methods?

I redact my previous claim. More research has changed my mind on the differences between female and male learning methods. Females seem to prefer uni-modal learning and males prefer more diversity in their methods of learning.
EDIT: I just re-read and noticed the sample size was tiny in the aforementioned study. I'm not really too invested so it's whatever.

It seems it's much more individual than just male vs female learning methods.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 47

Dheorl

Original post by Twinpeaks

The sex ratio at birth is often referenced as anything from 105 - 107 (although the accuracy of this is often questioned) but if you account for the entire world population, the difference is much smaller, with a ratio more along the lines of 101-102:100, less than 1% difference.

I have to admit I don't fully know the reasons for this. If its that birth rates favouring males is a modern thing, or if simply more males die in infancy.

Reply 48

username2246259

Original post by Twinpeaks

105:100 isn't 5% more women. It's 2.4% more.

Reply 49

Twinpeaks

Original post by AlexFam

105:100 isn't 5% more women. It's 2.4% more.

When did I say that it's 5% more women? It was another poster who said that.

Reply 50

Twinpeaks

Original post by AlexFam

As a psychology graduate, I agree with your final statement. It's never that simple.

Reply 51

username2246259

Original post by Twinpeaks

When did I say that it's 5% more women? It was another poster who said that.

Oh yep.

Reply 52

Twinpeaks

Original post by Dheorl

Well when you look at the entire population across all lifespans, it makes sense that that statistic will be drowned out by other factors. For example, females tend to have a longer life expectancy on average.

Reply 53

Dheorl

Original post by Twinpeaks

I'd be curious to know at what age it balances out. Is it purely because of more older (70+) women living longer, or does it start to swing at a lower age, for instance around 30, due to more men dying in combat/work/general life than women, or is there a difference of infant mortality between the sexes. I guess it's a combination of at least two of the above, just not sure what the prominent factor is.

Most prevalent to this conversation is does this actually have any effect on balance of genders in British schools. IIRC in Britain there are actually overall more women than men.

Reply 54

Twinpeaks

Original post by Dheorl

All valid points, I'd be curious to know as well :smile:

Obviously the difference will differ considerably in developed countries where men are more likely to work in more physical, higher risk jobs. But then equally in such countries, there's a greater risk of female mortality during child labour. Swing and roundabouts.

Reply 55

DarkNightingale

Women in particular are not disadvantaged in society, in the 21st century we have some of the most influential women to ever be born; Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, Ellen DeGeneres, Emma Watson and countless others.and while there may be things like the gender wage gap, women are becoming more powerful and more noticeable by the minute, in fact, Ucas data shows that about 30,000 more women than men are set to start degree courses.

Reply 56

username3331778

Education is catered towards girls, boys are an afterthought until sixth form

Reply 57

STw67

Original post by DarkNightingale

Intresting. I also done a bit of research, most of the RG Uni's it's still roughly 50/50/ in regards to Gender split, however as you go down the lower uni's are packed with women, and looking at ucas data more women take on the softer subjects, health and social care, Sociology aswell as hard such as maths, medicine, however Men don't bother unless it's the top courses.

I come to the conclusion women/Girls HAVE to go to University as they believe they are doomed without a degree as they have nothing to fall back on. Boys/Men however have manual/physical jobs to fall back on which don't require academic Qualfications.

Reply 58

BitMel

Well according to A level sociology Girls do better in education because:
A) Introduction of coursework.
B) Better attitude to education
C) More role models (Female teachers)
D) Teacher Stereotypes placed on girls being more cooperative.
E) The Feminisation of education and male identity crisis (from male labour jobs moving to 3rd world countries)

This all ties into female gender role socialisation.