Success and failure at school: The importance of socioeconomic status and gender

Abstract

This study attempts to verify if there is any truth behind the common public opinion that girls are better students than boys. Assuming a gender perspective, the researchers departed from the idea that neither the category "girl" nor the category "boy" are homogenous. Therefore, in this study, they considered both sex and socioeconomic background of the students as possible explanations for their school results (i.e., school success or failure). Statistically they compared: (1) boys and girls from the same socioeconomic background and of different socioeconomic backgrounds; (2) girls from different socioeconomic backgrounds and boys from different socioeconomic backgrounds. The results of this study are discussed in relation to the theoretical assumptions, as well as the implications for policies of equal opportunities in education. 

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v15i1.491