Richard Reeves, the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, discusses the challenges boys face in school, male executive function, gender disparities in education, standardized testing differences, and the importance of true gender equality for everyone to thrive.
Boys face academic challenges in language development and school performance, requiring attention and support.
Including boys in gender equality efforts is essential for a more inclusive approach to combating disparities.
Addressing boys' non-cognitive skills and disabilities while promoting personal growth can enhance their academic success.
Deep dives
Concerns about Boys' Educational Performance
Parents often worry about boys falling behind academically, from language development to struggling to keep up with girls in school. Data shows that boys generally perform less well in schools and higher education, creating concerns about their future success.
Challenges in Discussing Boys' Issues
There is a growing debate about including boys and men in gender equality efforts. Melinda Gates' investment in gender equality acknowledges the importance of addressing boys' struggles alongside empowering women. This signals a shift towards a more inclusive approach in combating gender disparities.
Impact of Gender Gaps on Boys and Men
Boys face a larger share of ADHD and developmental disability diagnoses than girls. Addressing these issues requires understanding the environment's role in disabilities. Overcompensating for perceived deficiencies in boys might hinder their personal growth and create a sense of incompetence.
Teaching Essential Life Skills to Boys
Boys often struggle with non-cognitive skills like organization and executive function. Incorporating skill training programs for these capabilities while ensuring a balanced approach to allowing failures and providing support can enhance boys' development and academic success.
Evaluating Interventions for Boys' Success
When funding initiatives to support boys, the challenge lies in balancing rigorous research methods like RCTs with on-the-ground realities. It is crucial to consider a combination of data-driven evaluations and practical insights to determine the effectiveness of interventions. Additionally, measuring indicators like staff turnover can offer valuable insights into program impact.
There are many, many wonderful things about parenting boys. There are also challenges that seem disproportionate. Boys often develop language later than girls. More boys than girls are held back in school entry. Girls do better in school at nearly all levels, and are significantly more likely to attend college. Yet this doesn’t get the kind of attention that it might if the genders were reversed.
Today on ParentData, we're joined by Richard Reeves. Richard is the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, which aims to both identify and combat the challenges facing boys and men today. We talk about the challenges boys face in school, male executive function, how standardized testing affects boys and girls differently, why those adolescent backpacks are so gross, and how true gender equality requires everyone to thrive.
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