Young boys are struggling, and we wanted to figure out just how badly and why.
Boys enter kindergarten lagging behind girls in both academic readiness and behavior. A majority of teenagers agree that boys are more disruptive. Large shares say girls get better grades, have more leadership roles and speak up more in class.
Note: Survey conducted Sept. 18-Oct. 10. Home-schooled teens were not included. Shares of respondents who did not offer an answer are not shown. Source: Pew Research Center The New York Times
In interviews, young men say that school never felt like a good fit for them, or that they got the sense that teachers didn’t like boys, and that this left them feeling discouraged or undervalued. By high school, girls are more likely to graduate on time — and more likely to go to college.
Note: Individuals ages 16-24 are counted here if enrolled in a two- or four-year college by October in the year of their high school graduation or equivalent. Source: National Center for Education Statistics The New York Times
Young men are struggling in their mental health and transitions to adulthood, too. What’s going on here? I’m reporting a series on boys, the first installment of which published today. I’d love to hear your experiences and insights about what’s going on with boys, and what might be driving it. Tell The Times what you think here. — Claire Cain Miller