How to Solve the Education Crisis for Boys and Men | Richard Reeves | TED

Title IX and the Gender Gap in Higher Education

In this section, the speaker discusses how Title IX was passed in 1972 to expand economic and educational opportunities for women. However, today there is a bigger gender gap in higher education than there was 50 years ago when Title IX was passed.

The Unexpected Gender Gap

• Title IX expanded economic and educational opportunities for women.

• Women have caught up with men in college degrees and surpassed them within a decade.

• Today, there is an 18-percentage-point gap in the awarding of college degrees favoring women.

• The gender gap is bigger today than it was 50 years ago when Title IX was passed.

• The speaker has been noticing more gender gaps that are not in the direction she expected.

Boys Falling Behind

• Boys and men are falling behind, and we need to think about gender inequality in both directions.

• Men are lagging behind on some measures, especially on college campuses where boys are trailing girls throughout the education system.

• Two-thirds of top academic performers measured by GPA are girls while two-thirds at the bottom are boys.

• Internationally, at age 15, there's a five-point gap favoring boys in math but essentially no gap or even a slight one favoring girls in science. However, boys are 30 points behind girls at age 15 in reading and language skills.

Intersectionality Matters

• Not all boys and men struggle equally; class and race intersect with gender to create different outcomes.

• Boys from poorer and middle-class households are much less likely to attend college than girls from the same background.

• Gender gaps are even more stark for Black Americans, where for every Black man getting a college degree, there are two Black women.

The Education System

• The education system's failure to work well for boys and men is not intentional.

• As artificial and sexist barriers placed in front of women and girls have been removed, their natural advantages in the classroom have been revealed.

• Compared to girls, boys face two big structural disadvantages in education: their brains develop later, especially the prefrontal cortex associated with planning, organization, and impulse control; and they lack female role models in teaching positions.

The Challenges Boys Face in Education

In this section, the speaker discusses the challenges that boys face in education and how these challenges can be addressed.

Impulse Control and Sensation Seeking

• Doing homework requires impulse control to match sensation seeking. Girls have a reasonable balance between impulse control and sensation seeking, but adolescent boys have higher levels of sensation seeking and significantly lower levels of impulse control.

• Adolescent boys struggle with sitting down to do their homework instead of something more enticing.

• Girls develop non-cognitive skills earlier than boys.

Lack of Male Teachers

• The share of K-12 teachers who are male in the US is just 23 percent.

• Male teachers can be important male role models for children who don't have one at home.

• Male teachers appear to be more sensitive to the specific challenges of boys in the classroom.

• Having a male teacher seems to dispel the idea that reading and writing just aren't for boys.

Problems with Boys

• Boys' problems are turned into problems with boys. If they struggle to sit still or pay attention or apply themselves to a task, they may be diagnosed with some kind of disability.

• In the US today, 23 percent of school-age boys have been diagnosed with some form of developmental disability. Twice the rate for girls. ADHD is the most common.

• It is clear that it is the system which is disabling rather than the boys who are disabled.

Solutions

• Start boys in school a year later to level the playing field given differences in brain development timing. This should be a question of public policy as it would benefit lower-income families most.

Lessons from the Movement to Get More Women and Girls Interested in STEM Subjects

In this section, Richard Reeves talks about how we can learn from the successful movement to get more women and girls interested in STEM subjects. He suggests setting clear targets, launching public campaigns, and offering financial scholarships to men who want to enter teaching as a profession.

Key Points

• We can draw lessons from the successful movement to get more women and girls interested in STEM subjects.

• Setting clear targets, launching public campaigns, and offering financial scholarships are some of the ways we can encourage men to enter teaching as a profession.

Challenges Faced by Boys and Men

In this section, Richard Reeves acknowledges that there are millions of boys and men who are struggling right now. He urges parents or teachers working with them not to judge them against a female standard or blame them if they're struggling in a system that might not be working well for them.

Key Points

• There are millions of boys and men who are struggling right now.

• Parents or teachers should avoid judging boys against a female standard or blaming them if they're struggling in a system that might not be working well for them.

Don't Treat Boys as If They Were Malfunctioning Girls

In this section, Richard Reeves emphasizes the importance of recognizing and respecting the differences between boys and girls. He advises parents or teachers not to treat boys as if they were malfunctioning girls.

Key Points

• It's important to recognize and respect the differences between boys and girls.

• Parents or teachers should avoid treating boys as if they were malfunctioning girls.

Doing More for Boys and Men Doesn't Mean Doing Any Less for Women and Girls

In this section, Richard Reeves argues that doing more for boys and men doesn't mean doing any less for women and girls. He suggests that we can think two thoughts at once, do two things at once, and rise together.

Key Points

• Doing more for boys and men doesn't mean doing any less for women and girls.

• We can think two thoughts at once, do two things at once, and rise together.

Other Areas Where Boys and Men Are Struggling

In this section, Richard Reeves highlights other areas where many boys and men are struggling, including mental health, suicide risk, loneliness/belonging, family life, employment. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging these problems to prevent irresponsible people from exploiting them.

Key Points

• Many boys and men are struggling in areas such as mental health, suicide risk, loneliness/belonging, family life, employment.

• Acknowledging these problems is important to prevent irresponsible people from exploiting them.

Advice for 14-Year-Old Boys Who Are Struggling

In this section, Richard Reeves gives advice to 14-year-old boys who are struggling. He encourages them not to blame themselves but rather understand that the system might not be working for them. He also advises them not to fall for the message that they're struggling because women are flourishing.

Key Points

• 14-year-old boys who are struggling should understand that it's not just their fault and the system might not be working for them.

• They should not fall for the message that they're struggling because women are flourishing.