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Chapter Four
Boys, Girls and Learning
1. Gender, Motivation and Learning
Girls and boys both have the need to be their own person – what psychologists call autonomy. Autonomy
is an individual’s need to be assertive, to have rights and to show responsibility.
Girls Boys
Have the need to fit in – Relationships Have the need to stand out – Status
• To belong.
• To connect.
• To co-operate.
• To be different.
• To be capable.
• To compete.
Girls and boys have different classroom behaviours:
Girls Boys
• Girls can plan and organize their work more
effectively than boys.
• Girls tend to be less disruptive in class.
• Girls often underestimate their own abilities.
• Girls are less likely to answer questions in
class, but are more likely to ask for help.
• Girls are likely to be more open about their
aspirations than boys.
• Girls tend to think first and act later. They are
slower to become involved in practical activities.
• Boys often want to work, but don’t know how,
or are poorly organized.
• Boys are more noisy in class.
• Boys are academically overconfident.
• Boys tend to answer more in class, even if
they are unsure of the right answer.
• Boys pretend to be clever, or that they haven’t
done their homework (when they have).
• Boys tend to act first and think later. Volunteer
first for practical activities.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• Maslow’s theory says that humans are
driven to reach their full potential (self-
actualisation) and will succeed unless
obstructions are placed in their way.
• Girls and boys both need to have their
basic essential needs (bottom of the
triangle) attended to before they can
progress towards what parents, teachers
and society expect of them – and what
they expect of themselves – (top of the
triangle).
2. Connecting with Girls and Boys
• Girls are more concerned than boys with pleasing the teacher and more likely than boys to follow the
teacher’s example. For them, a close relationship with the teacher can raise their status amongst their
peers. They expect the teacher to be on their side, to be an ally. Unlike boys, they tend to ask the teacher
for help when they need it.
• Boys are less likely to follow the teacher’s example, preferring to do it their own way. Boys are not
supposed to be too friendly with teachers. Boys can be direct. They tend to speak and act in simple
terms. They may not be terribly concerned with pleasing others, especially teachers.
Communication Essentials:
1. Be Genuine – What you see is what you get.
2. Be Respectful – Unconditional positive regard.
3. Be Empathetic – Put yourself in another person’s shoes.