Write an analytical essay (800-1200 words) in which you analyse Christina Hoff Sommers’ article “The Boys at the Back” and discuss the issue of the gender gap in education.
Part of your essay must focus on how Sommers argues for her views and on her intentions.
In your essay you must include references to: Christina Hoff Sommers’ article, the CBS News clip “As gender roles change, are men out of step?”, and 1-2 other internet sources
Christina Hoff Sommers (f. 1950) er en amerikansk forfatter, kendt for sin modstand mod den moderne feminisme. To af hendes vigtigste værker er Who Stole Feminism og The War Against Boys.
Your assignment should also include a discussion of the issue of the gender gap in education, based on the article “The Boys at the Back” but also on a video and a text from the internet. Here we give you some input on possible points for the discussion.
According to Christina Hoff Sommers in “The Boys at the Back”, today’s issue with the gender gap in education is no longer about girls’ access to education but about boys performing more poorly than girls.
According to Sommers, this is partially due to the American educational system which neither accommodates the way boys learn, nor helps the boys to improve how they learn.
While the video “As gender roles change, are men out of step?” acknowledges the same gender gap in education (boys achieve poorer academic results than girls), the opinions expressed by those interviewed suggest that this is because boys and young men don't adapt to changes in gender roles and the economy, not because of the educational system.
Finally, the internet text that we have recommended, “Boys 'twice as likely to fall behind girls' in early years”, suggests that the gender gap in education might be a result of social and biological causes, which affect boys even before going to school.
We encourage you to reflect on which opinion(s) you relate to more and why. Do you believe educational systems should change to better fit the boys’ needs or that boys (and young men) need to change their perspective on education?
Furthermore, consider if the same gender gap in education exists in your country and how it manifests itself.
Finally, consider that while in Western countries the problem of the gender gap in education has become an issue of boys’ lack of academic performance and engagement, in many parts of the developing world, gender gaps in education are still about girls’ limited access to education.
