Gender differences in educational attainment: influences of the family environment

Fiona K. Mensah; Kathleen E. Kiernan

doi:10.1080/01411920902802198

Gender differences in educational attainment: influences of the family environment

Fiona K. Mensah, Kathleen E. Kiernan

Social Policy and Social Work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

There are gender differences in educational attainment amongst British children and there is evidence that these differences emerge early in life. In this study we investigate whether boys' and girls' early educational attainment levels are similarly related to disadvantage in the family environment. This study uses survey data from the Millennium Cohort Study linked with the teachers Foundation Stage Profile assessment for children in the primary year of school in England between 2005 and 2006. The study finds lower attainment in communication, language and literacy and mathematical development for both boys and girls in families experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. Early motherhood, low maternal qualifications, low family income and unemployment most strongly predict lower scores. Tests for gender interaction shows boys in families where mothers are young, where they lack qualifications or if they are living in poor quality areas are more disadvantaged compared to girls in similar circumstances.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	239-260
Number of pages	22
Journal	British Educational Research Journal
Volume	36
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/01411920902802198
Publication status	Published - Apr 2010

Keywords

ACHIEVEMENT
CHILDHOOD

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http://www.informaworld.com/openurl?genre=article&issn=0141-1926&volume=36&issue=2&spage=239

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title = "Gender differences in educational attainment: influences of the family environment",

abstract = "There are gender differences in educational attainment amongst British children and there is evidence that these differences emerge early in life. In this study we investigate whether boys' and girls' early educational attainment levels are similarly related to disadvantage in the family environment. This study uses survey data from the Millennium Cohort Study linked with the teachers Foundation Stage Profile assessment for children in the primary year of school in England between 2005 and 2006. The study finds lower attainment in communication, language and literacy and mathematical development for both boys and girls in families experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. Early motherhood, low maternal qualifications, low family income and unemployment most strongly predict lower scores. Tests for gender interaction shows boys in families where mothers are young, where they lack qualifications or if they are living in poor quality areas are more disadvantaged compared to girls in similar circumstances.",

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AB - There are gender differences in educational attainment amongst British children and there is evidence that these differences emerge early in life. In this study we investigate whether boys' and girls' early educational attainment levels are similarly related to disadvantage in the family environment. This study uses survey data from the Millennium Cohort Study linked with the teachers Foundation Stage Profile assessment for children in the primary year of school in England between 2005 and 2006. The study finds lower attainment in communication, language and literacy and mathematical development for both boys and girls in families experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. Early motherhood, low maternal qualifications, low family income and unemployment most strongly predict lower scores. Tests for gender interaction shows boys in families where mothers are young, where they lack qualifications or if they are living in poor quality areas are more disadvantaged compared to girls in similar circumstances.

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Gender differences in educational attainment: influences of the family environment

Abstract

Keywords

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