Outside Risk Factors Related to Gender and Achievement

Boys tend to be labeled as bigger risk takers than women, but both sexes have outside factors that can influence their achievement.  For example, males and females have the risk of dropping out of school.  Males have a higher drop out rate, but females are less likely to return to school.  Girls are sexually harassed more and have the possibility of pregnancy.  A larger percentage of females suffer from depression than males, and often times this depression goes unnoticed or untreated. (Vandrick, www.tokyoprogressive.org.uk/gale/articles/vandrick.html)  Many boys experience developmental delays and are disciplined at a higher rate than their female classmates.   More boys than girls are assigned to special needs classes, and unfortunately, sometimes the recommendations are simply a “defect” with the teacher. (Hadaway, Online Reading, Sections 6.6 & 6.7)  All of these negative factors can sour motivational attitudes of students in language classes and effect overall achievement.  Awareness and knowing appropriate action for each situation seem to be the only defenses against demotivation and subsequently transfer.